How to prune a dwarf apple tree in the fall

Dwarf apple trees are pruned annually in the fall. This helps increase the yield. Therefore, it's important to understand how to prune a dwarf apple tree. Only high-quality pruning will produce the desired results. This is necessary to restore the balance between the rootstock and the crown of a low-growing plant. Diseased and damaged shoots are removed annually. Pruning a dwarf apple tree can help shape the crown.

The need for pruning

Pruning dwarf apple trees in the fall is essential. Damaged and rotten branches are the main source of pathogens. If apple trees are not pruned promptly and branches are not removed, pathogens will spread to healthy shoots. A large crown prevents apple trees from producing a normal number of fruits. If dwarf trees are pruned incorrectly, fruit production will be impossible. The root system will not be able to provide nutrition for the entire tree.

Pruning semi-dwarf and dwarf apple trees immediately after planting is essential for the tree's establishment. Sometimes it's necessary to rejuvenate an older plant. This stimulates its internal forces. It's clear that without pruning, the plant won't produce a fruitful harvest, so pruning is essential. Ignoring this procedure will result in a poor harvest, and fruit trees may die. Here are some basic terms every gardener should know:

1. Annual means that the shoot has been growing for a year.
2. Skeletal branches are first-order branches that extend from the trunk. Second-order branches will grow from them.
3. The leading or central conductor is the part of the trunk that is located at the top.
4. Competitors are the branches on the sides that grow close to the trunk of the plant.
5. An overgrown branch is a lateral branch, usually a small branch with buds. These branches can grow on their own or require pruning.
6. When fully grown and under favorable conditions (watering), flower buds will begin to form and flowers will bloom from them.
7. A growth bud will later develop into a shoot.
8. A basal shoot is a new branch growing from the trunk of an apple tree or from a rhizome, but not above the area where the graft was made.

Don't forget about care after the formation of a dwarf apple tree; this is the key to success.

Tools

Pruning fruit trees will only be effective if you use high-quality tools. All knives and pruning shears should be well-sharpened and disinfected. Pruning shears with long handles are necessary for cutting thick branches. They are also used for pruning branches growing in hard-to-reach areas.

Before pruning, you need to prepare:

1. Garden knife.
2. Garden var.
3. Bandaging material.

You will also need a saw. Detailed Autumn pruning for beginners The video clearly demonstrates this.

Dates of the event

If the tree has just been planted, it must be established before pruning. Fruiting must be done promptly. This affects the tree's subsequent acclimatization.

Favorable time:

1. Pruning is carried out when the apple tree has completely lost its leaves.
2. In this case, the average temperature should be approximately +5 ^ODuring this period, the plant does not grow new leaves. All its energy is devoted to the restoration process.
3. Timing depends entirely on climate conditions. The key is to have 14 days before the first frost at night when pruning. This allows the cuts time to heal. This will prevent damage to the plants.

Read alsoSchemes and timing for pruning garden trees in autumn Garden trees require care throughout the year. Their productivity and longevity depend on it. One such care method is autumn pruning, which shapes the crown and…

In southern regions, pruning can be done in October. In colder regions, the best time to prune is September. In a dormant state, the plant can better withstand stress. Apple trees will recover quickly and survive frosts without problems, as long as they are properly cared for.

Features of pruning

If you shape the crown too much, there will be little foliage in the spring, and the plant will experience nutritional problems. This will cause the apple tree to become ill and produce poor fruit. The pruning schedule must be followed. In the spring, the top buds are the first to open. These will form long shoots. If they are not pruned, the branches will be under uneven pressure. When the buds appear, crown formation and pruning must be done carefully.

Young apple trees grow vigorously. But as the years go by, their growth slows. However, new branches form from dormant buds. Consequently, the crown becomes dense, and fruit forms exclusively at the top, with none inside due to insufficient sunlight. If the crown isn't properly formed, the apple tree will begin to bend under the weight of the branches. There's a high risk of the plant splitting in half. When shaping the crown of a dwarf or semi-dwarf tree, consider the following advice from professionals:

1. Regulate the growth of branches. The strongest ones should be located below the weaker ones, otherwise the weaker ones will suffer.
2. Depending on the thickness of the branches, you'll need different tools. For thicker branches, use pruning shears or a saw, while for thinner ones, special scissors are suitable.
3. Formation begins in the first years after planting the crop.
4. Shaping is challenging because the crown must be natural. This means that even after pruning, when most of the branches are shortened, the apple tree's crown should not have an irregular shape.

It's also essential to care for dwarf apple trees from the very first days of growth, in the fall, winter, and year-round. This illustrated guide for beginners will help you with this task.

Pruning on rootstock and pinching shoots

https://youtu.be/D7lWTkOIN-s

After grafting, you need to wait a few years before pruning. During this period, the branches will strengthen and begin to grow fully. In about 2-3 years, the main shoot will form—this is the strongest one. Lateral shoots on apple trees on dwarf rootstocks can then be pruned. This can be done during the warmer months.

Pinching of shoots is carried out in spring and summer:

1. Pinching (pruning) removes young, not yet woody shoots. This can be done by hand without gardening tools, trimming only the ends of the shoot.
2. If it is necessary to cut off the thickest part, use pruning shears.
3. When pinching in summer, the apple tree retains essential microelements and tissue healing is more active.

Pinch in stages. Repeat three times, every 14-21 days between each pinch. It's best to do the final pinching no later than August 15th, otherwise the young shoots won't mature and will die when the first frost hits.

Thinning apple tree plantings

Dwarf apple trees are known for their abundant fruit production. The shorter the plant, the more apples it produces. However, excessive fruiting causes branches to sag, which will weaken the tree over the years. The harvest will be large, but the apples will be wormy, dull, and small. To prevent this, thinning the ovaries is necessary. The plant will produce fewer apples, which will reduce the strain on the branches. However, be sure to keep the following recommendations in mind:

1. The best time to work is in June. This is when the excess ovaries will wilt and begin to fall off on their own.
2. Don't pluck the ovaries. Shaking the branches vigorously is sufficient, and they will fall off spontaneously.
3. If there are a large number of ovaries, they do not fall off, they can be thinned out using scissors.

With pyramidal pruning, a two-meter-long, powerful trunk remains in the center. Lateral branches, approximately one meter long, extend from this trunk. The branches are shortened toward the top. The apple tree resembles a pyramid.

Pruning by age

https://youtu.be/qh80g0NKgZs

The age of the plant must be taken into account; this will help create beautiful, healthy fruit trees. While the annual is dormant, it is pruned. The maximum permissible tree height is 500 mm. The cut is made at the bud opposite the graft. Over the summer, the apple tree should develop five fairly strong shoots, the top one growing vertically.

In the second year, by the beginning of April it is necessary:

1. Cut the wires in the center, leaving approximately 200 mm.
2. It is allowed to cut off the side branches that grow towards the ground.
3. Next, you can make the branches on the side shorter by 3-4 leaves without touching the conductors.

In the third year, pruning is performed in the same way as in the second year. A three-year-old tree should be pruned in early spring, removing lateral shoots up to 200 mm long and cutting off the central branch. In the summer, lateral shoots are pruned back to three leaves, and secondary shoots are shortened by one leaf. The conductors are left untouched.

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Mature dwarf apple trees need to be pruned annually, trimming the new growth in late spring. Lateral branches are pruned after they reach 500 mm. Pruning strong vertical growth helps maintain the tree's pyramidal shape. The primary goals of caring for mature dwarf apple trees are pruning excess branches and shoots, maintaining maximum yield, and ensuring a well-shaped crown.

Mistakes of inexperienced gardeners

Many beginners make mistakes when shaping fruit plants. Skimping on tools is irrational, as poor-quality pruning shears and knives will not produce a good cut. They require careful maintenance. Excessive pruning is just as damaging as no pruning at all.

Pruning is done only when the apple tree is dormant—at the end of winter or the beginning of spring. There's no need to hesitate; large, non-fruiting branches can be safely removed. Care must be taken not to remove all branches at once, as this will damage the tree and potentially kill it. Frequent pruning will activate the growing season and reduce fruit yield.

The following conclusions can be drawn:

1. Dwarf and semi-dwarf trees, like other fruit trees, require proper shaping and timely pruning every year.
2. The rules depend on the age of the tree. The first pruning is done in the year the apple trees are planted.
3. To prune accurately without damaging the apple tree, you need high-quality, sharpened tools.

These recommendations will help you avoid mistakes when shaping fruit trees. By thoroughly studying all the steps involved in apple tree shaping, you'll be able to grow beautiful trees without any problems. Although an apple tree is a plant, it's also a living organism. Therefore, any manipulations should be carried out only with disinfected tools. This protects against disease.

If you're unsure, it's best to hire an expert to do the pruning. They'll show you how to do it correctly and safely. This will allow you to prune your own next year. As a result, you'll reap a bountiful harvest.