apple tre pruning

[Polly]

    wife and i was talking about pruning a apple tree we own concerning time to do it and proper procedure she said ask you all 

[Ron Scott]

Late fall or winter is best.

[Onthesauk]

Here in the NW, normally done in late January through February for heavy pruning.  More and more you read that for thinning and trimming, fruit trees can be done anytime.

[Sprucegum]

I usually do mine late fall or early spring when there are no leaves so I can see what I am cutting. I trim my trees more for looks and convenience than for apple production. With 4 trees I still get more apples than I can eat.

Pruning is hard to explain, even with pictures. You might want to pick up a book at the library   
Or just go ahead and trim off any branch that touches another branch. Then cut off any branch that grows staight up off a main branch. Then cut off any branch that grows straight down off a main branch. If your wife is like mine she'll be yelling at you to quit by now      So you can do the rest next year 

[Dan_Shade]

i remember my dad pruning fruit trees until mom yelled at him!

[Polly]

 8)thanks advise noted and copied to give boss i mean wife

[Dodgy Loner]

Onethesauk, our apple growers do the same thing - heavy pruning in January-February, light pruning can be done at any time, just like any other tree.

[Onthesauk]

Agree with Sprucegum.  In addition:

   1) first take out anything that is dead or diseased.

   2) take out anything that crosses and rubs another branch

   3) take out anything off the bottom of a branch

   4) shorten branch by cutting just beyond a growth nub that is pointing the direction you want the branch to go.

Have also heard that if you have old trees that need a lot of cutting back you shouldn't cut more then a third of the tree in any one year.  But have seen apple trees cut back almost to stumps and come back just fine.  Your mileage may vary.

[deutz4]

Sprucegum is right. After the straight up, straight down, and rubbing branches are removed, back away from the tree and ask yourself "Where would I like to see this tree go and where is it heading that I don't agree with". Our natural instinct is to under-prune. You will find that 2 years after any minor mistake the tree will forgive you so be bold and do it right the first time. You will get a nice crop that much sooner.