Rules for pruning apple trees in summer

When the time comes to the beginning of pruning trees, the case most often ends with controversy and questions about when it is best to do it and how to do it. As for the answer to the question “is it possible to prune apple trees in summer? "- definitely" yes ", because it is a common practice, it means that you can do it. The article will look at the main points for pruning apples in the summer: how to choose the principles and methods, depending on age and your personal experience. If you are new to this business, then be sure to learn how to do it easily and quickly.

If you are new to gardening, then initially it is worth figuring out why trees are pruned, why this procedure is best done in the summer and which trees need it most. Immediately it is worth answering the question: does it make sense to pruning branches? The answer will be yes. After all, if you do not carry out regular removal of unwanted or bad branches, then the tree can completely die. Through this procedure, you accelerate the fruiting of apple trees and leave the tree intact.

The apple tree is a fruit tree, therefore it needs the obligatory processing of its crown. Thanks to this procedure, you can solve several tasks at once:

• pruning during filling will improve the appearance of the fruit and taste;
• the tree releases sap in the summer, due to which the wound will heal faster and will be protected from all sorts of pests;
• accelerate growth and fruiting;
• the crown will significantly decrease in size;
• attempts of parasites to harm the plant will be reduced.

Regarding the fruiting of the tree - such a procedure helps to penetrate sunlight through the entire crown to get light, and without such an adjustment the fruits will grow high and it will be difficult to reach them. What time of year will be the most favorable for processing the crown, depending on the region of residence?

Gardeners do not recommend the process of pruning in the fall, if you live in the central or in the northern region of Russia. In this case, the trees do not have time to heal the "wounds", which can lead to illness and death of the plant. The best time will be spring. Carefully ensure that the procedure is completed before the kidneys begin to swell.

For those living in the southern region, it is allowed to prune trees in winter. There is not so strong frost and wind. Also, due to pruning, the process of so-called tree crown regeneration takes place, which will allow the branches to grow faster and the crop to ripen. In winter, it is better to prune the sapling tree, since in the first crop it will be very fruitful, and in the second it will be necessary to give it a rest, then the fruits will ripen moderately and on time every year.

The optimum size of a fruitful tree varies from 3 m in height and 3 m in width. As for the question of pruning a tree in the summer, here we are talking only about those plants that are 3 years old or more, because as mentioned earlier, after pruning new trees, new branches begin to grow faster and bear fruit, respectively. It is good to carry out the procedure for trimming the crown with the aim of rejuvenating the formation Here it is worth getting rid of the dried branches and a little walk on the main crown. So begin to form new shoots, and the tree will begin to bear fruit better.

Having dealt with the question of what time of year it is better to carry out the so-called reconstruction of the fruit tree, you should familiarize yourself with the methods of pruning. Moreover, if the procedure is performed by a novice, this information will come in handy.

Now we will find out what are the methods of pruning trees and consider each separately.

Trimming can be:

• formative;
• sanitary;
• rejuvenating;
• regulatory.

The forming method speaks for itself - it helps the tree to form a solid foundation only from fresh and well-bearing branches. Sanitary - is designed to remove branches that were damaged or those that grow incorrectly. The rejuvenating procedure is aimed at the destruction of old branches, and the regulating procedure will help support the tree and properly regulate the growth of the crown.

Now let's get acquainted with the degrees of intensity:

• nip;
• weak;
• average;
• strong.

If you have a one-year increase, then it is better to use in such a way as nip. To stimulate the growth of new shoots on the sapling, it is better to use a weak pruning - by one fourth. With an average - one third of the branch is removed, it is suitable for mature apples that have reached the age of five. Full removal of branches implies a strong pruning, which is suitable for already mature plants.

Trimming can be carried out, for example, on the ring. It is good because the entire branch is removed. At the base or at the point of growth, the branch has a growth in the form of a ring, where the tissues expand quickly enough, and if you cut it in this place, the wound will heal faster.

To increase the crown and density, it is necessary to use such a technique as pruning on the kidney, while on the outside, so that later there is where to grow new shoots. Correctly cutting the branch is necessary at a distance of no more than 50 mm from the kidney that you have chosen. Also, as in the first case, when cutting too far, a stump may form, and if you come too close, you can damage the kidney. After the procedure, it is recommended to treat the cut with oil paint or linseed oil so that the infection cannot hit the tree.

Further the useful information for beginners will follow. If you are a beginner gardener, the next section is for you.

Pruning a tree for a novice gardener may seem like an impossible task, however, after acquiring knowledge and through constant practice, you can reach heights and gain good skills. The main thing - do not be afraid, in this case it is better to undercut something than to cut. And if you are not sure whether to remove a branch or better to leave it, then rely on a more experienced gardener so as not to harm the tree.

For plants that have reached 5 years or more, pruning is done every five years; at the same time only young shoots are removed and the crown is slightly processed.

In the month of June, it is recommended to carry out pruning, aimed at the rejuvenation of the crown, as the branches fight for supremacy under the sun with young shoots. In the second month - July, new branches begin to grow intensively and they must be controlled, otherwise the crown will become too massive and the tree will not cope with such a load. In August, take care of removing the wrongly growing branches, old and young.

Summer pruning is good because you will see the result immediately, compared to the cold seasonwhen the leaves are missing and it is difficult to imagine what will be the crown in spring.

In the section “Cutting methods” we talked about cutting to a ring. You have already familiarized yourself with this view, it is universal and does not present much complexity in execution. To form the crown of a young tree, pruning is applied on the kidney: external and internal. To give the crown the correct shape, pruning is applied to the external kidney, the principle of which was mentioned earlier. If you see that the crown of the tree has weakened, and the lower branches have given a strong growth, then pruning should be carried out on the inner bud. In order to remove the branch correctly, use a well-ground garden knife, move 2-3 mm back from the kidney and quickly cut the branch at a 45-degree angle.Hold the branch with your left hand, and if you notice that you have swung a little on the cut of the fabric, then immediately strip it.

After reading a lot of recommendations, a novice gardener may have a feeling of being lost. The main thing is to remember the rule of the so-called "magical triple". When you plant a young apple tree, leave three main growth buds on it. Next summer you will receive three full sprigs. With the onset of spring, the procedure will need to be repeated, leaving three growth buds on each branch. As a result, for the second summer you already receive 9 branches and for the third time a similar procedure is carried out, which eventually has 27 branches of a small, but well-formed, young tree.

The advantage is that during the winter frosts such a crown will be easily restored. In the future, on each of the branches, it will be necessary to leave 1 growth kidney, which does not make the young apple heavier, and the most important thing is to get a good harvest.

We now turn to pruning a two-year apple. The basis is the trunk, from which several shoots depart. See which ones are the most developed - they should be from three to five - and leave them. They will be the main branches on the tree, the rest - delete. The central branch is formed above the most developed kidney and it should be higher than the others by about 4-5 buds. The lower branches must be cut to a mark of no more than 30 cm, and the branches that are higher are shorter than the last. Thanks to this simple scheme, you can easily get a strong and rounded crown of a two-year apple tree. As for the subsequent care, then pay attention to the damaged and diseased branches. If you prune according to all the rules, you may notice a slowdown in fruiting.

In addition to the correct pruning, they also adopt such techniques as the direction of growth and the slope of the branch. In order to change the branch angle, use spacers or pull the branch to the peg.

It is worth now to get acquainted with the factors that distinguish between pruning between young and old trees.

Young seedlings should not be subjected to severe pruning, as the task of the first such procedure is the activation of growth and fruiting. The so-called skeletal bones - the foundation. If you follow the pattern, then initially it is necessary to remove the processes that hinder the growth of the others, be sure to do this at an acute angle. It is necessary to repeat in 2-3 years. Thanks to a well-formed crown, the sun's rays will completely cover it, the fruits will get enough air, and you can easily harvest. Therefore, pruning is very important, thanks to her, the apples will look big and bulky; and if you do not carry out this procedure, then you risk collecting small and dry fruits.

How to recognize that already an elderly tree needs pruning? Remember the following factors:

• increase shoots less than 30 cm;
• fruits are small and dry.

According to experienced gardeners, such a tree should not grow up, and it is necessary to remove those branches that grow at an acute angle. If your branches are 3 years old or more, then remove them to a height of 6 cm. After that, all cuts should be smeared with oil paint, which will help avoid branch rotting.

In conclusion, it should be said that pruning an apple in the summer is not only possible, but also useful, because such preventive work will save the tree and get a quality crop. However, adhere to the basic rules of tree care:

• the height should not exceed 5 m, if the tree has grown much higher than it should be, then this means a lack of nutrients;
• timely shorten the branches for better fruiting and to avoid injury to the main crown of the entire tree;
• if the apple tree has ceased to bear fruit, stop pruning for a while and follow the growth dynamics.

As practice shows, proper care always makes itself felt with time. A small wait - and the result will not keep you waiting, by the fall you will get a beautiful, and most importantly, high-quality harvest.

To learn how to properly prune an apple tree in the summer, see below.