Pruning dwarf apple trees: how to form, process features and timing

Pruning fruit trees should be done regularly, otherwise their productivity will decrease, or the fruits will become of less quality. When pruning dwarf apple trees, there are a number of recommendations to consider.

Do I need to prune dwarf apple trees?

Dwarf apple trees must be pruned. Rotten branches are the main source of pathogenic microorganisms leading to a variety of diseases. If they are not pruned in time, the rot can spread to he althy young branches. As a result, the tree will suffer.

In addition, if the crown is too massive, the plant will produce little fruit. However, they will be small, wormy and unappetizing.

The crown should not be larger than the root system. If it is too large, the roots will not be able to receive the nutrients necessary for the growth and development of the tree. As a result, the plant will begin to wither until it dies.

Pruning timing

Usually pruning is carried out in autumn and spring. Moreover, each type has its own characteristics. Autumn pruning must be carried out after all the leaves have fallen off. This indicates that the plant's growing season is over and it has "hibernated".

But it is not recommended to do it too late. If you cut off old branches just before the onset of frost, an open wound will remain. This can cause rotting.

Spring pruning should be done in early spring before the buds begin to swell. It is forbidden to perform the procedure during the flowering period - so the tree will be severely injured. The plant produces a large amount of juice, which accelerates the healing process. Even if autumn pruning was carried out, in the spring you still have to correct the crown by removing the branches frozen over the winter.

Summer pruning is rare. Thanks to her, the plant will bloom late next season. This will keep it from freezing in case of bad weather.

How to prune a dwarf apple tree?

In the process of work it is necessary to take into account a number of rules. If the crown is cut too much, few leaves will appear in the spring, which will disrupt the tree's nutrition process. From this, the plant will suffer, bear fruit poorly.

Thinning

Dwarf apple trees give very good yields. This is due to the fact that the smaller the height of the tree, the more fruit is formed on it. However, a large number of apples leads to bending of the branches, due to which the tree will begin to deplete over time. The yield may remain the same, but the fruits will become wormy, pale and very small.

To avoid such problems, you need to thin out the ovary. Due to this, the tree will produce less fruit. Therefore, there will be a small load on the branches.

But there are some important rules to keep in mind when thinning:

• It is desirable to carry out the procedure in June. It is at this time that the extra ovaries will become lethargic and begin to fall off spontaneously.
• The ovaries should not be broken. It is enough to shake off the branches well, so that they will fall off on their own.
• If there are too many ovaries and they do not fall off, they can be thinned out with garden shears.

Thinning helps to remove weak or diseased apples. As a result, the harvest will be less numerous, but the fruits will be larger.

Removal of kidneys

In spring, the apical buds are the first to open. Of these, long shoots will be formed in the future. If these buds are not cut, the branches will be unevenly loaded. It is better to leave only the middle buds, which will also give strong shoots.

But before cutting them, you need to carefully examine them. It is necessary to leave those buds that are necessary for the formation of the correct crown of the tree.

Crown formation

Young trees grow very intensively.However, over time, their growth slows down. Nevertheless, new shoots are formed from dormant buds. As a result, the crown thickens, and the fruits are formed only in the upper layers of the crown, and in the inner layers they are absent due to insufficient sunlight.

If you do not form the correct crown, the plant will begin to sag under the weight of the branches. There is an increased risk that the tree will split into 2 parts.

In the process of forming the crown of a dwarf or semi-dwarf apple tree, the following recommendations must be taken into account:

• Regulate the growth of branches. The stronger ones should be below the weak ones, otherwise the latter will be exhausted and dry up.
• Depending on the thickness of the branches, different tools must be used. To trim thicker ones, you need to use a pruner or a hacksaw, and for thin ones, garden shears will do.
• You need to form a crown from the first years after planting.

Formation of the crown is a rather complicated process, because it needs to be kept natural. That is, even after removing extra branches and buds, her crown should not have an irregular shape.

Pyramid trim

In this case, a dense trunk up to 2 m high remains in the center. Lateral branches depart from it, the average length of which is 1 m. At the same time, the length of the branches is shortened upward. As a result, the tree resembles a pyramid.

Pruning for rootstock

After grafting a plant, wait a few years before pruning. During this time, the branches will strengthen and develop well. After about 2-3 years, the main shoot will be formed - it is the thickest and he althiest. And the side branches can be removed. It is best to do this in spring or summer.

Pinching shoots

Held during the warm season. When pinching (pinching), young, not yet lignified processes are removed. This can be done without special tools, by hand, removing only the tips of the shoot. If the thicker part needs to be trimmed, a pruner is used.

During summer tweezing, the necessary nutrients are preserved in the plant, tissue healing is faster. The procedure should be carried out in stages. You need to repeat it three times, with a frequency between repetitions of 2-3 weeks. It is advisable that the last pinching be carried out no later than mid-August, otherwise the young sprouts will not ripen and die when the first frost sets in.

Pruning by tree age

Also, when pruning a tree, it is necessary to take into account its age.

Apple tree 1st year of life

It is recommended to shorten annual seedlings so that their height does not exceed 50 cm. If the procedure is carried out correctly, then by August there should already be several developed shoots on the tree.

2nd year of life

In the second year of life, preferably in the spring, the central conductors should be trimmed. The distance between the highest part of the tree and the top branch should not exceed 20 cm. You should also trim the side branches that grow downwards.

3rd year of life

Work should be carried out in the spring to injure the plant less. Lateral shoots must be shortened by 20 cm, and the central branch by 5-10 cm. At the end of summer, the shoots must also be shortened by 3 leaves.

Mature apple tree

Growing trees need to be pruned annually. Manipulations should be carried out in late autumn and early spring. It is necessary to monitor the length of the side branches so that it does not exceed 0.5 m. The conductors must also be cut so that the height of an adult apple tree is no more than 2-2.5 m.

Typical beginner mistakes

Very often people start cutting branches without proper experience. As a result, they cut too much, use the wrong tools, or do not follow the technology. The plant may suffer from this.

In order not to harm the tree, it is necessary to take into account the following recommendations:

• Tools need to be purchased with high quality, with a sharp blade. If the scissors or secateurs are bad, the gardener will not be able to remove the extra branches with one cut.
• After work, the tools should be washed and dried well. Keep them dry to prevent rust.
• Cut the branches to the optimal length. If you shorten them too much, it will negatively affect the condition of the tree.
• If fruit-bearing branches do not form, you need to find a he althy bud and tear off the bark a little above it.
• The procedure can be carried out only when the plant is at rest. It is better to do this in late autumn or early spring.
• If you need to remove too many branches, then it is better to do it in stages, in the spring. If you remove all the branches at once, the plant may get a shock.

When starting to prune apple trees, it is recommended to consult with more experienced gardeners. Otherwise, you can harm your garden.

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