Trimming Apple Trees - Ask Extension
I watched the online videos and I am attempting to trim my apple trees. I have 2 questions, please refer to pictures attached.
1. This tree has ob...
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Trimming Apple Trees #783123
Asked March 03, 2022, 4:15 PM EST
I watched the online videos and I am attempting to trim my apple trees. I have 2 questions, please refer to pictures attached.
1. This tree has obviously not been trimmed in quite some time. In the photo you will see there are large branches going straight up off the lateral branches and then smaller shoots coming off them also going straight up. Should I be cutting some of these larger branches that go straight up off?
2. This other photo I have circled the problem area. This low branch on the side of the tree is a hazard when mowing. Can I remove it or will it kill the tree?
Olmsted County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for writing.
The entire blue branch can be removed by first cutting off the small vertical branch to give you room. Then do a vertical cut upwards from about 1/4 inch away from the trunk. Then meet it by cutting downward. These two cuts will avoid a situation where the bark peels down from the branch you are working on (unlikely in this case but good to get in the habit of.
Be merciless with those vertical branches.
This will be a several season effort and I have concerns about the health of the tree. The two major vertical branches are at a very acute angle and this can cause them to split or trap moisture at the angle. Fungus, usually black sets in and this is a problem. I believe that may be the black material on the branch circled in blue. I might do better with close ups of the blackened bark.
https://gardenerspath.com/how-to/disease-and-pests/apple-tree-bot-rot/
The entire blue branch can be removed by first cutting off the small vertical branch to give you room. Then do a vertical cut upwards from about 1/4 inch away from the trunk. Then meet it by cutting downward. These two cuts will avoid a situation where the bark peels down from the branch you are working on (unlikely in this case but good to get in the habit of.
Be merciless with those vertical branches.
This will be a several season effort and I have concerns about the health of the tree. The two major vertical branches are at a very acute angle and this can cause them to split or trap moisture at the angle. Fungus, usually black sets in and this is a problem. I believe that may be the black material on the branch circled in blue. I might do better with close ups of the blackened bark.
https://gardenerspath.com/how-to/disease-and-pests/apple-tree-bot-rot/
Thank you for the quick reply. I am concerned about the health of this tree as well. Seems like when we cut a branch off it turns black and there seems to be two branches that is losing it’s bark. I’ve attached some more pictures. That being said this tree is quite old. We moved in here 30 years ago and this apple tree and another one was well established.
Sent from Mail for Windows
From: Ask Extension
Sent: Thursday, March 3, 2022 4:29 PM
To: Linda Wickert
Subject: Re: Trimming Apple Trees (#0053054)
Hi,
That appears to be a semi-dwarf apple tree. The life expectancy is 15-25 years old. It is dying from fungus. Take it down.
You can plant near where the current tree is (make sure you choose a variety that blooms at the same time as the other tree so that they can cross pollinate bear fruit). The two trees can be up to 25 feet apart for cross pollination. If you care for it well and do not nick the side of the bark with a mower and put a guard on the trunk to protect it from rabbits and deer in the winter, you should be ok. Best to you
That appears to be a semi-dwarf apple tree. The life expectancy is 15-25 years old. It is dying from fungus. Take it down.
You can plant near where the current tree is (make sure you choose a variety that blooms at the same time as the other tree so that they can cross pollinate bear fruit). The two trees can be up to 25 feet apart for cross pollination. If you care for it well and do not nick the side of the bark with a mower and put a guard on the trunk to protect it from rabbits and deer in the winter, you should be ok. Best to you
