Any apple tree needs rejuvenation over time, otherwise a drop in yield and diseases cannot be avoided.
Pruning a tree is a kind of reboot that takes the plant to a new level and helps get rid of unnecessary branches.
This is a very important procedure, but the probability of making a mistake is quite high. When pruning an apple tree, you need to follow 2 important rules.
Gradual pruning
When you take a pruning shear or a saw, you should not remove everything unnecessary at once. If the tree has not been rejuvenated for a long time, it is better to spread the work over 2-3 seasons.
If the plant has never been pruned, and then you decide to remove old and diseased shoots at once, you can seriously harm the tree. The consequences are varied: long recovery, loss of yield, diseases and even death.
Trimming time
Some summer residents want to outsmart nature, so they grab the pruning shears in February or even earlier, when there are still snowdrifts.
At negative temperatures, thin branches are fragile. If you prune in winter, the apple tree will bleed juice for a long time in summer.
The best time for pruning is early spring, when sub-zero temperatures are behind us, the sun is warm, but the sap flow has not yet begun.
