Wild apple trees - Ask Extension
We recently built a new house on previously wooded lot. We were happy to see an apple tree on our property but the apples are small and have many impe...
Knowledgebase
Wild apple trees #851120
Asked September 25, 2023, 8:32 AM EDT
We recently built a new house on previously wooded lot. We were happy to see an apple tree on our property but the apples are small and have many imperfections but are sweet. I would love to help this tree produce larger, healthier apples in the coming years. Is there anything I can do to make this happen?
Livingston County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
If you have large, overgrown, neglected fruit trees, then winter is the perfect time to start shaping them up for a productive harvest. If the trees have been neglected for a long time, it may take two to three years to complete the rejuvenation process. You must also look at the structure of the trees and decide if they are worth saving. Evaluate trees on the following:
Where are the trees located?
Are the trees generally healthy?
Do the trees bear good fruit?
If you decided a tree is worth saving, here are a few basic pruning steps to rejuvenation recommended by Michigan State University Extension. Go to this link:
These methods work best for apple and pear trees.
Step 1: Remove all dead and diseased branches. Be sure to trim all large cuts to their origin and that they are smooth on the branch. This will reduce the risk of infecting healthy wood. Be sure to sterilize your pruning tools with a 1:1 bleach and water solution after cutting away infected wood.
Step 2: Remove crossing and rubbing branches. Remove the oldest branches first. Open up the center of the tree to allow air to circulate and light to penetrate the center, allowing for better growth of the fruit and reduction of disease.
Step 3: If the trees are overgrown and you want to reduce their height, remember to only reduce the tree by about one-third of their height at a time. This may take up to three years. For example, if the tree is 24 feet tall and you want it to be 15 feet tall, remove 3 feet per year.
In the subsequent years, you will need to continue thinning the trees and removing water sprouts that have popped up as a result of the first year’s pruning. Rejuvenating fruits trees takes effort, but the reward of bountiful harvests for years to come is worth the effort. FROM THE MSUE ARTICLE: Rejuvenating old fruit trees - Dixie Sandborn, Michigan State University Extension - November 13, 2015 - Winter is the perfect time to start shaping up overgrown and neglected trees for a productive harvest next season. At this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/rejuvenating_old_fruit_trees
OTHER RESOURCES (that may be handy):
Smart Gardening: Considerations for growing backyard tree fruit - February 7, 2018 - Author: Diane Brown, Michigan State University Extension at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/considerations_for_growing_backyard_tree_fruit
Smart Gardening: Pruning and training backyard apple and pear trees - January 11, 2019 - Author: Diane Brown, Michigan State University Extension. Revised for Michigan from ‘Growing Apple Trees in Wisconsin' by Roper, Mahr and McManus, 2006. At this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/smart-gardening-pruning-and-training-backyard-apple-and-pear-trees
Pest Management - Apples MSU at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/apples/pest_management/
Horticulture - Apples MSU at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/apples/horticulture/
I hope this helps!
If you have large, overgrown, neglected fruit trees, then winter is the perfect time to start shaping them up for a productive harvest. If the trees have been neglected for a long time, it may take two to three years to complete the rejuvenation process. You must also look at the structure of the trees and decide if they are worth saving. Evaluate trees on the following:
Where are the trees located?
Are the trees generally healthy?
Do the trees bear good fruit?
If you decided a tree is worth saving, here are a few basic pruning steps to rejuvenation recommended by Michigan State University Extension. Go to this link:
These methods work best for apple and pear trees.
Step 1: Remove all dead and diseased branches. Be sure to trim all large cuts to their origin and that they are smooth on the branch. This will reduce the risk of infecting healthy wood. Be sure to sterilize your pruning tools with a 1:1 bleach and water solution after cutting away infected wood.
Step 2: Remove crossing and rubbing branches. Remove the oldest branches first. Open up the center of the tree to allow air to circulate and light to penetrate the center, allowing for better growth of the fruit and reduction of disease.
Step 3: If the trees are overgrown and you want to reduce their height, remember to only reduce the tree by about one-third of their height at a time. This may take up to three years. For example, if the tree is 24 feet tall and you want it to be 15 feet tall, remove 3 feet per year.
In the subsequent years, you will need to continue thinning the trees and removing water sprouts that have popped up as a result of the first year’s pruning. Rejuvenating fruits trees takes effort, but the reward of bountiful harvests for years to come is worth the effort. FROM THE MSUE ARTICLE: Rejuvenating old fruit trees - Dixie Sandborn, Michigan State University Extension - November 13, 2015 - Winter is the perfect time to start shaping up overgrown and neglected trees for a productive harvest next season. At this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/rejuvenating_old_fruit_trees
OTHER RESOURCES (that may be handy):
Smart Gardening: Considerations for growing backyard tree fruit - February 7, 2018 - Author: Diane Brown, Michigan State University Extension at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/considerations_for_growing_backyard_tree_fruit
Smart Gardening: Pruning and training backyard apple and pear trees - January 11, 2019 - Author: Diane Brown, Michigan State University Extension. Revised for Michigan from ‘Growing Apple Trees in Wisconsin' by Roper, Mahr and McManus, 2006. At this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/smart-gardening-pruning-and-training-backyard-apple-and-pear-trees
Pest Management - Apples MSU at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/apples/pest_management/
Horticulture - Apples MSU at this link: https://www.canr.msu.edu/apples/horticulture/
I hope this helps!
