Properly pruning an old apple tree

Properly pruning an old apple tree

Bringing neglected apple trees back into shape

Apple trees are often neglected in gardens and not pruned properly for years. Certain old varieties sometimes survive this better than newer varieties. Nevertheless, it can happen that a neglected apple tree bears only a few fruits or becomes susceptible to wind damage and diseases. With a carefully dosed cut, the growth of new shoots can also be stimulated in old apple trees.

also read

  • Rejuvenate an old apple tree in the garden
  • Cut a young apple tree yourself
  • Pruning an apple tree in autumn

Courage to make radical changes

Even with older apple trees, you should not be too timid when cutting. So don't be afraid to completely remove thick branches and parts of the tree that have grown impractical. However, older trees on tree wounds with a larger cross-section need suitable wound care. There are suitable means for wound closure in specialist shops that protect tree wounds from the penetration of pathogens and fungi. At the same time, however, it should also be noted that all changes to the treetop of an old apple tree also change the attack surfaces for wind and weather. That is why you should secure branches that can break off, especially near buildings, or remove them if necessary.

Do not overwhelm the health of the trees

In principle, winter pruning is an effective means of rejuvenation even with older apple trees. But you should make sure, especially with trees that are no longer quite vital, that there are no frosty minus temperatures on the day of winter pruning. Old trees and trees that have been damaged in their vitality are often particularly sensitive to winter cold, drought and fungal attack. In principle, any pruning of old apple trees can serve the following purposes:

  • the rejuvenation of the treetop
  • the formation of new fruit-bearing shoots
  • the containment of fungal growth and disease

Tips & Tricks

If you want to prune an old apple tree heavily due to a poor yield, you can also use the cut for copulating new leaflets on an old apple root.