Pruning a neglected apple tree
Brian
looks like the two major trunks were cut back at 7 foot a few years ago, but
since then a number of major branches have started from there and shot
straight up an additional 10 or more feet. I am reluctant to cut them off
because they are now a big part of the tree, but I certainly will not be
climbing that high to get the fruit!
I also don't want to get too radical in case I misidentified the tree...
Brian
smoke...@yahoo.com
Sherwin Dubren
I would not invest a lot of time until you get some fruit off this
tree.
It's possibly an apple which you won't like. If height is a problem for
you, best to pull out what sounds like a full size tree, and replace it
with a dwarf, or at least a semi-dwarf tree. What you now have is a
tree with a large root structure that is trying to balance itself by
putting out abundant above ground growth.
Sherwin D.
simy1
While I mostly agree with Sherwin, in case you end up liking the
apples from the tree, there are tools to harvest tall trees. Basically
a very long pole with a mechanical hand at the top. Also, if they shot
straight up, this thing could be a pear tree.
Brian
> While I mostly agree with Sherwin, in case you end up liking the
> apples from the tree, there are tools to harvest tall trees. Basically
> a very long pole with a mechanical hand at the top. Also, if they shot
> straight up, this thing could be a pear tree.
Well, I don't like pears, anyways...
I might just cut the branches going straight up and hope that the
lateral branches strengthen rather than new straight up branches
sprouting. I guess I will not do much beyond that yet...
Brian
Dwayne
per year during pruning. Take some of the uprights, dead wood, and the ones
growing down. In addition, branches that if left alone, will rub on another
branch that you want to keep, remove or cut back.
Dwayne
"Brian" <smoke...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:f53f8f8d.04021...@posting.google.com...
Sherwin Dubren
commonly called waterspouts.
They result when a tree is trying to put out growth very quickly. This
can occur if one overdoes
the spring pruning, or in the case in question, a major cut down
occurred. A tree like this with
a very large root structure cannot easily be shortened by pruning. It
is trying it's hardest to
balance the top growth, as I mentioned before. I think Brian has the
right idea to prune off
the waterspouts, and try and develop the outgrowing branches. By the
way, waterspouts are not
peculiar to pear trees, you get them on apple and stone fruit trees, as
well.
Sherwin D.
Dan Mazerolle
Here is a link to an excellent step by step method to restore old apple
trees.
Good luck
Dan
http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/html/ec/ec1005/ec1005.html
Ray Drouillard
I asked a similar question in an email list. I got a reply from someone
who resurrected some old neglected trees over a span of three years.
Essentially, you start by knocking off all the branches that go straight
up or straight down. Also, keep the new growth that goes straight up
pruned off.
Send email to ray drou at quixnet dot net and I'll see if I can get
permission to forward it to you.
Ray Drouillard