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Home » Gardening » How to Prune Apple Trees

Published: Feb 25, 2021 · Modified: Mar 21, 2023 by Kathy · This post may contain affiliate links

How to Prune Apple Trees

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A pruned apple tree in an orchard.

Prune your own apple trees. With a few tip to follow, it's not as hard as you think!

Pruning your apple trees in the spring helps yield a larger harvest of apples in the fall.

A large set of pruners clipping a branch.

Do you have apple trees? Then they need to be pruned annually. Hiring someone to do this task just doesn't make sense, when you can do it yourself.

My husband, Rod does all our pruning and prunes several apple trees every spring.  It's time to learn how to prune apple trees.

Full Disclosure: Rod is not an arborist and does not have any formal training when it comes to pruning.  He just has years of experience and results that work - that means, the apple trees survive and thrive!

The apple trees are loaded year after year! These are his tips and what works for him!  Rod's famous words of wisdom -

Don't worry too much about how it turns out... If you don't do it perfectly, it's okay.  It's like a bad haircut. It will grow back!

 Just take it slow and step back to see how it's coming along!  My advice, as a total novice - just don't take off too much! (I don't like bad haircuts!)

A man standing in an apple tree with a pair of pruners.

These trees are very mature apple trees.  The "bones" of the tree are already there.  

New trees still require pruning, but the process is just a bit different because you are forming the shape each year.  Pruning on new trees is minimal. These tips are focusing on the mature tree.

Table of Contents
Types of pruners to use
Four things to keep in mind while pruning
What to do with apples
More homesteading info

Types of pruners to use

Rod uses two types of pruners - one long handled lopper and one small handheld bypass pruner.   If you need to remove larger branches, you will need a handsaw.

Four things to keep in mind while pruning

  1. Keep branches growing out, not up.  Cut off all vertical shoots.
  2. Cut off any damaged branches.
  3. Try not to let tree get too wide. Stand back and look at the branches.  If they are extending out too far, give them a trim.
  4. Anticipate spacing for fruit and branches. Take a look at each cluster.  If the cluster is too tight, remove one of the small branches.
Upright shoots growing on an apple tree.

Remove all shoots that are growing straight up.

Pruners cutting new growth off an apple tree.

Trim branches near the base of the branch.

Pruners cutting a broken branch.

Remove any damaged branches.  The branch above was snapped off during the winter time.

Trimming an old apple tree from the top of a ladder.

Remove any branches that will become too crowded or too wide.  The picture below show a branch where the apples will be growing.  It can have up to 3 or 4 apples.  This branch has enough space for the apples - no need to prune here.

New leaves starting to sprout off a branch of an apple tree.

Clipping branches off an old tree.

Safety first! A ladder is the safest way to prune the trees. Rod like to get up into the trees to prune, but always be safe.

A newly pruned apple tree in an orchard.

The finished trees are flatter on the top with the branches extending out to the side.

What to do with apples

We get a huge harvest of apples every year. Some recipes we make are Apple Pie Filling, Apple Butter, Cocoa Apple Cake, Apple Fritters and we also press the apples into Cider.  

More homesteading info

  • How to Prune Raspberries
  • How to Plant Garlic
  • Raising Baby Chicks
  • Honey Bees
A girl on a horse talking to a man on a yellow ladder by an apple tree.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David @ Spiced says

    February 26, 2021 at 4:23 am

    I always get jealous when I see your apple trees, Kathy! We planted a couple apple trees in our old house, and we diligently pruned them each year and watched them grow...then we moved. (I think the new owner might have actually chopped 'em down...the horror!) We didn't plant any new ones at this house purely because of how long they take to mature. I'll just have to live vicariously through you instead! 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      February 26, 2021 at 4:37 am

      Apple trees do take a long time to mature and really start to produce. Some of these trees are over 100 years old! You might not have trees right now, I do seem to recall you have a local orchard you usually visit during harvest time - almost as good as having your own!

      Reply
  2. Jen says

    April 03, 2017 at 4:33 am

    I love this. We just purchased a house that has about a dozen apple trees n about 6 pear trees and I had no idea what to do with them. This definitely will help me trim them back. Thanks

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 03, 2017 at 5:42 am

      Lucky you to get that many trees! It's work pruning them now, but will be so great in the all when you get a great harvest of apples and pears!

      Reply
  3. Sarah Anderson says

    June 10, 2016 at 9:51 am

    What is the issue with vertical branches? I don't think I have seen a tree with them before unless you count the trunk. I have read before that a tree can get multiple trunks if your not careful, and that you should prevent that because it can kill the tree. Is that the issue you are trying to prevent?

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      June 10, 2016 at 7:38 pm

      The only problem with vertical branches is the tree becomes too large and difficult to pick the fruit. Pruning helps control the shape of the tree.

      Reply
  4. mira says

    April 09, 2016 at 8:04 pm

    This is so helpful! Love it! Saving for when I need it!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 10, 2016 at 9:12 am

      Thanks, Mira!

      Reply
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I'm Kathy, a busy working mom who loves to cook from scratch, grow a garden, and raise farm animals. Take a look around and find all my recipes, gardening tips, and country living antics.

More about me →

Popular Recipes

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  • A plate with baked pasta with cheese and tomatoes.
    Chicken Pasta Bake

Chicken Dinners

  • Strips of chicken, peppers and onions in a baked casserole.
    Chicken Fajita Casserole
  • Crispy chicken thighs on a white plate.
    Cast Iron Chicken Thighs
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  • A plate filled with chicken legs covered in barbecue sauce.
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Featured In...

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