In most regions of Russia, pruning of old apple trees is done in the fall after the leaves have fallen. At this time, the trees prepare for winter dormancy; their sap flow slows, and wounds dry and heal more quickly. The crowns of old trees require special care and, if yields decline sharply, need to be rejuvenated.
Why prune old apple trees?
Over time, the connection between the tree's above-ground part and its root system becomes disrupted, causing the crown to age. The apical parts of the shoots, located further from the roots, are the first to suffer from age-related changes, followed by higher branches and the trunk.
Signs of aging:
- slow growth of skeletal branches;
- dying off of overgrowing branches;
- decrease in crop yield;
- frequent alternation of fruitful and lean seasons.
Typically, when these symptoms appear, gardeners decide to prune the crown of an old apple tree to restore fruit production. Additionally, mature fruit trees are stunted by cutting off the central rib. This is done taking into account the varietal characteristics and rootstock type. The optimal height for apple trees on vigorous rootstocks is 3-5 m, while for medium-sized rootstocks, it's 2.5-4 m.
When is the best time to prune an old apple tree?
Russia is a vast country, and the climate varies across its regions, so gardeners determine the deadline for fall pruning based on local weather conditions. Wounds take several weeks to heal, so the best time to prune an old apple tree in the fall is 3-4 weeks before the onset of frost.
| Region | Timing of autumn pruning |
| Krasnodar Krai | Until mid-November |
| Crimea | |
| Stavropol Krai | |
| Central Russia | from October 10 to October 30 |
| Southern regions of Siberia and Altai | End of September |
Basic rules of pruning
Gardeners spend years learning how to properly prune apple trees. The mistakes they make affect the tree's yield and lifespan. During the first years, from the second to the fourth, pruning shapes the crown. Over the course of four years, the branches create a skeleton consisting of three to four tiers.
When pruning branches, follow these rules:
- work begins when the apple tree has shed its leaves;
- when completely removing a branch, it is cut to a ring, leaving no stump;
- when thinning the crown, shoots are shortened to the bud located on the outer side;
- In order to thicken the crown or raise the branch, the cut is made on the inner bud.
With any pruning scheme, the rule of branch subordination is followed. According to this rule, lower branches should be stronger and longer than upper ones. Rules also apply to the degree of pruning, which depends on the age of the tree.
| Age | Degree | Description |
| 1-4 years | Weak | In autumn, young shoots that formed over the summer are shortened by ¼ of their length. |
| 5-7 years | Average | In autumn, young shoots that formed over the summer are shortened by ⅓ of their length. |
| Over 8 years old | Strong | The crown is thinned out in the fall, removing 50% of the shoots that formed over the summer. |
How and what to use to prune an old apple tree
Pruning shears are a gardener's primary tool for removing shoots and branches no thicker than 2.5 cm. Thick branches with a diameter of 2.5-5 cm and branches located at the top of an old apple tree's crown are cut with loppers.
When heavily pruning apple trees, it is necessary to remove thick skeletal branches and trunks with a diameter greater than 5 cm. Large branches cannot be cut with pruning shears or loppers, so they must be sawed off with a hacksaw.
If a dead branch is cut incorrectly, a hollow can form. To prevent this, the branch is pruned in three stages:
- the first cut is made under the branch, slightly away from the trunk ring;
- the second cut is made from above, a little further away from the trunk ring;
- the third cut connects the upper and lower cuts;
- The remaining stump is cut off with a hacksaw along the ring.
Before starting work, garden tools are cleaned of dirt and cutting surfaces are treated with a disinfectant solution.
Schemes for the formation of old apple trees
The pruning pattern for old apple trees in the fall depends on the crown shape. This is determined by the type of rootstock (clonal semi-dwarf, seedling), the characteristics of the variety, and the climate. A sparse, tiered crown shape is typical of the apple tree, and is used when growing medium- and vigorous varieties.
Low-growing varieties are trained into a cup-shaped form. In Siberian conditions, European apple varieties with low winter hardiness are grown in creeping and creeping-bush forms. The crown of columnar apple trees resembles that of a cypress and requires minimal annual pruning to maintain fruiting.
Columnar apple trees
When space for fruit trees is limited at the dacha, columnar apple trees are planted. Due to the nature of their crown, they occupy a small area but bear fruit for no more than 15-20 years. Their crowns require special care, including annual pruning according to the following scheme:
- in the autumn of the first year of life, all shoots formed over the summer are shortened by 2 buds;
- in the autumn of the second year of life, all branches growing horizontally are shortened to 30 cm, those growing vertically are shortened by 2 buds;
- In subsequent years, pruning is repeated according to the same scheme, in addition to this, branches that have borne fruit, weak, damaged and dry ones are cut out.
Creeping apple trees
The crown of creeping apple trees tends to become overgrown quickly, so thinning pruning of creeping apple trees is carried out regularly:
- in June and July, pinch vertically growing shoots located in the middle part of the crown;
- Damaged, diseased, and overgrown branches are cut out.
Rejuvenation pruning is performed when yield declines or vigorous growth is lost. All branches of the productive part of the crown are pruned back to the lower branch, which stimulates the active formation of new shoots. Pruning to replace branches stimulates tree growth and restores fruiting.
A simple option for rejuvenating old apple trees
The older the apple tree, the more difficult it is to harvest. Fruit forms in the upper part of the crown, where most of the fruiting wood is formed. Apple tree rejuvenation is carried out in the fall:
- at a height of 2-3 m from the ground, the central conductor is cut off;
- all skeletal branches are shortened by making a cut above a correctly positioned strong shoot;
- branches that thicken the crown, downward-growing branches and water sprouts are cut out.
After rejuvenation, the crown resembles a triangle. With the right approach, it takes 3-4 years to form.
A modern way of rejuvenation
An old apple tree can be rejuvenated using this method in two stages, several years apart. It takes 6-8 years for the crown to fully recover. In the first year, some branches on the south side of the crown are completely pruned, and the remaining branches are shortened, moving them to shoots growing in a favorable direction.
Over the course of 2-3 years, the new crown is formed, leaving the strongest shoots, observing the rule of subordination. After the first harvest from the southern part of the crown, the rejuvenation procedure is carried out on the northern side.
Maximum pruning and when it is needed
Water suckers are useful for rejuvenating old fruit trees. These are non-fruit-bearing shoots that grow vertically upward. Their appearance can be artificially stimulated by severely pruning the apple tree in the fall:
- shorten the central conductor at the level of the 3rd tier;
- cut the side branches into a ring;
- Treat wounds with a 3% solution of copper sulfate and cover with garden pitch.
In the spring, the tree will begin to restore its lost crown, dormant buds will awaken, and over the summer, water sprouts will form from them, they are partially cut out, and from the remaining ones begin to form a new crownStep-by-step process algorithm:
- in the first autumn, shorten the length by a third;
- In the second autumn, shoots growing horizontally are left, and vertical ones are trimmed.
To turn the water sprout into a fruiting branch, the shoots are bent back in the spring and secured in a drooping position with ropes.
Sanitary pruning of apple trees
To prevent the crown of a fruit-bearing apple tree from becoming neglected, sanitary pruning is performed every fall. This is done when the temperature rises above zero after leaf fall. Branches with extensive damage sustained during the summer are removed first. Breaks in skeletal branches caused by strong winds or heavy fruit loads are repaired first.
Pruning neglected apple trees
It takes years to restore the crown of a mature tree to its normal condition. Rejuvenation produces good results if the tree is healthy. The condition of the wood is assessed by examining the cut, its color and texture.
If the cut surface is dark and affected by rot or bark beetles, it's easier to cut the tree down. If the surface is healthy, begin rejuvenating pruning, spaced out over three years. In the fall of the first year, remove cracked, dry, and broken branches. Clear the trunk of lichen and moss.
Second year
The second year involves a significant amount of work. First, crown thinning is carried out. Almost all suckers are removed, leaving no more than 10 on the entire tree. Then, branches growing toward the center of the crown and rubbing against each other are removed. Lastly, the center of the crown is exposed. For this, the apple tree trunk is cut down at a height of 3-3.5 m.
Third year
In the third year, a new, proper crown begins to form. Three to four branches are left in each tier. Healthy specimens extending from the central conductor at an angle close to a right angle are selected to form the skeleton.
Maintain a distance of 50-60 cm between tiers. All branches within this space are cut off. Three skeletal branches are left in the top tier. During this gentle pruning, the apple tree continues to bear fruit.
After forming a proper crown, apple tree yield increases. Fruit quality improves. After rejuvenating pruning, the tree bears fruit for a long time and is less susceptible to disease. Below is a video for beginning gardeners on fall tree pruning.
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