Everything you need to know about pruning a young apple tree

An important part of caring for a young apple tree, in addition to watering and processing with various means, is pruning. Thanks to it, you can not only make the appearance of the tree beautiful, but even improve the harvest. High-quality pruning can be compared with treatment, which is the key to the correct and full development of the apple tree. Why pruning is needed, how to do it, what to fear, how to care after, as well as many other nuances, will be discussed in the article.

Without pruning, the tree will be sick and will not develop properly. Below are specific reasons why pruning is required.

1. Correct pruning forms a corresponding crown. The crown of the tree becomes aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

2. Pruning helps prevent branches from overloading. If such an overload occurs, then the branches can simply break off.

3. The formation of a crown of a certain shape limits the height of the tree... If the tree is too tall, then there is a possibility that it can tilt to either side.

4. Pruning the apple tree improves its ventilation... This reduces the likelihood of pests and various diseases.

5. By pruning trees you can increase light access to the lower branches.

6. Pruning stimulates root formation at a young apple tree.

7. The crop after pruning is also improved because the tree stops wasting energy on unnecessary branches.

Some gardeners believe that pruning a young apple tree is best done in the spring. From a scientific standpoint, early spring is indeed best suited for this process. The reason for this is quite commonplace - during this period the tree is still "sleeping", that is, there is no sap flow in the plant. Thus, after pruning, the tree will almost not lose its juice. At the same time, sap flow, which will soon begin, contributes to the rapid healing of "wounds". For spring pruning, you need to choose a time when the temperature mark rises above +10 degrees. Better yet, wait for a series of such days to come. Be sure to catch it before bud break.

This is necessary so that the tree has time to recover (the wounds should heal completely). The apple tree is completely cleared of fruits (if it had any), while the leaves completely fall off. You must first clear the entire trunk circle. Only after everything can you start the process itself.

A general guideline for pruning timing is as follows - the tree must be in "hibernation"... Pruning also negatively affects plants in the cold season: at temperatures below 8 degrees below zero, such activities should not be carried out. There are no specific deadlines for pruning trees - it all depends on the characteristics of the climate, variety and terrain. For example, in Siberia, it is not recommended to carry out spring pruning, since during this period it is still too cold there. An acceptable time for these regions is early autumn. Some gardeners are guided by the lunar calendar, which is also not entirely correct.

There is a set of tools without which high-quality pruning of an apple tree is simply impossible.

1. Garden knife. It must be well sharpened.

2. Secateurs... It also needs to be sharpened first.

3. Special garden saw. It is sometimes needed even for cutting branches of young trees.

4. Another pruner. The second pruner should have long handles.

5. Garden var.

All instruments must be well sharpened, otherwise they will strongly fluff the cuts. Usually, a stepladder is not needed for pruning young trees.

All cutting tools before work are preliminarily soaked in warm water containing disinfecting components. Garden var is needed to lubricate the slices. You can replace it with a paste or a solution of copper sulfate.

There are two main schemes for pruning trees. They are made in different ways and used for different purposes.

This method is used when there is a need to delete a branch. At the base of each of the branches there is a ring inundation. This "ring" is a layer of cells capable of rapid reproduction. Thus, if the branch is cut along with this "ring", then the wound formed at the site of the cut does not heal for a long time. In the opposite case, the cut off part of the branch will dry more and more until it turns into a kind of small hemp. However, usually the cut is made directly along the "ring" itself. This type of cutting is also allowed when the branch is removed along a line that divides the angle between the removed branch and the trunk in half.

This method is usually used to make the branches shorter. To cut to the kidney, you need to find the kidneys. It is quite simple to do this - they are located on young shoots and are almost always staggered. Half of them are external kidneys, and the other half are internal. For thinning, branches located on the outer buds are usually removed. Cuts for the inner bud are made if the crown of the tree is weak, and the lower branches have grown strongly.

All slices with a diameter exceeding 1 cm are mandatory need to be treated with a paste-putty, as they become the "entrance" for various kinds of infections and bacteria.

It is considered difficult for beginner gardeners to properly prune young trees. However, this is not quite true. It is a young tree that is easiest to prune, you just need to follow a few simple tips.

It is worth remembering that side shoots are cut immediately after planting. If this is not done, then only the upper branches will grow well.

Pruning is not recommended for the first year after planting. The annual apple tree is still too weak, and pruning can become an additional stressor for it, which may not be very beneficial to its health. Nevertheless, some gardeners are engaged in pruning such "young", believing that it reduces the load on fragile roots. At this age, it is allowed to remove side branches that are less than 70 cm from the ground.

In the second year after planting, you can already begin to form the crown of the future tree. Usually a two-year-old apple tree has not yet developed good side branches. Nevertheless, they are there, and they should be removed. But you only need to cut off individual branches located at a level below 1 meter from the ground.

It is with them that the formation of a full-fledged crown begins. During this period, it is already possible to notice whether the seedling has developmental defects. And it is during this period that they can still be adjusted.... And you also need to cut off branches that grow at an acute angle - they are considered the weakest.Make sure that the tree has one trunk. Simply put, if the trunk of a tree bifurcates, you need to take action and get rid of the side trunk.

In the third year, it is recommended to start pruning diseased and weak branches.... This is a good time to start forming the second tier. It should be 50 cm higher than the first. If you find an intersection of branches, you must cut one of them. Some apple trees at this age may already begin to bear fruit. It is also necessary to prune in such a way that the upper branches do not block the access of light to the lower ones. Of course, you cannot remove fruit branches or cut them off in large quantities - this will drastically reduce the amount of harvest. In general, all branches of a three-year-old apple tree are usually cut off by about 30 cm.From this age, it will be necessary to regularly limit the growth of the tree.

First of all, after pruning, you must carefully inspect the apple tree for damage. They must be treated with antiseptics, and then with garden varnish or special paste. Further, after pruning, be sure to water the tree abundantly. Plant feeding is also encouraged. The last two manipulations are needed in order for the tree to receive an incentive to grow after pruning.

And also it is imperative to get rid of moss or lichen that has settled on a tree. This must be done carefully and preferably with a piece of plastic. Damaged areas must also be treated with antiseptics.

There are a number of mistakes that should be avoided whenever possible.

1. Do not cut too many branches at one time. It is better to undercut rather than too much. If you are in doubt about whether to cut a branch, it is recommended to postpone pruning until later. It is best to consult with a professional, or find relevant material on this topic.

2. You need to prune regularly - annually and in small quantities.

3. If the tree is sick, then you do not need to cut it.... This will hurt him even more. It is necessary to wait until the moment when it is cured.

4. It is necessary to adhere to one form - pyramidal and try not to change it throughout the life of the apple tree.

5. Do not cut branches in rainy weather. You need to pick a day without precipitation.

6. You should not engage in such work in the midst of the day, as well as under the rays of the scorching sun.... The best time to prune is the evening before sunset.

7. Sometimes at a certain moment the crown of a tree begins to grow one-sided... In this case, the lower branches are tied closer to the trunk, and the upper ones, on the contrary, are "pushed back" from the trunk with special struts.