This is a good time to be pruning your apple trees.
Here are the top tips from Orchard Pig on how to care for your apple trees – you can do this whether you have one or a whole orchard.
- Focus on the leader of your tree; height is key. Single out the leading branch to get the tree to grow tall and straight.
- The trunk should be a smooth cylindrical shape. If there are branches that are restricting that shape remove them so that the flow is upwards.
- You can remove up to 25% of fruiting wood
- Cut in the right place, always back to the main trunk.
- Be brave ;)
The apple orchard pruning begins prior to new growth after its Wassail blessing.
Further links
- Weekend of orchard management in Somerset – A photoset on Flickr
- There is a fantastic resource of seasonal tips over the the Orchard Pig Blog
- Read the Orchard Ground Force Newsletter – February 2011 – PDF download