Fruitwise guide to pruning apple trees part 2

[jpmcg69]

Steve, these videos are really helpful, don't know how you manage camera, commentary and secateurs? Keep up good work! Any help on creating an espallier?

[Artbag1]

Thanks Stephen, I'm currently pruning olive trees, thick its the same principle, did you used to be a teacher? Very clear and understandable instructions.

[stephenhayesuk]

@Artbag1 Kind of you to say so. I'm a doctor which means I have been trained in communication skilss and summary, as I inevityably spend a lot of time explaining things to people of varying levels of educational attainment.

No idea how to prune olives! They don't grow in UK. however, a lot of the principles are similar, above all learn from the tree, keep a balance between new and old wood, and if in doubt don't overdo it.

all the best

[Tweaker8800]

felco is a good brand

[2sprayers]

Hi Stephen thanks for the tip used your vid last year and apples were good .Ross Brown .New Zealand

[jihadacadien]

This was a great video! I should've watched it before I pruned my trees ;) but I'll be wiser next year!

[organicfruittree]

This is just wonderful. I love the folksy and simple education. It like my old uncle Ronnie were telling me how to work my fruit garden, I just love it!

[BaaBaaRaa]

I love my Felcos too. I wonder how you keep them in good shape.

[BaaBaaRaa]

THANK YOU! Finally I 'see' after years of pruning. I especially liked the part about taking the lower spurs and pruning in length to an upfacing bud. I have not done this. Oops.

[bmacd17]

great videos thanks for the help!

[241Groundhog]

Most camcorders have a manual focus. If you set the focus as close as possible when filming the tree branches, then the branches might be more in focus.

[Teorispa]

Looking into purchasing a Felco Nº8 for myself.

Will make sure Felco gives you credit for this sale. Ofcourse I realize that your preference for this model is a matter of opinion, but they do look reliable.

[stephenhayesuk]

when I thought I had lost my Felco 8, I went out and bought another pair for £48, as I couldn't bear the thought of using a less good pair.

I later found them in my bicycle bag, so now I have 2 pairs, one new, one which I have used to prune 1,000 trees over 2years. Not much difference between them, except the new ones have a slightly crisper cut

[Teorispa]

I've used mine to prune some old neglected trees in a heroic attempt to save them by removing the dead wood, which was most of it.

Was a bit neglectful on the over crowding because I wanted to use up as much live wood as I possibly could, leaving some choices to be made next year by the Belgian couple that purchased the land from my father.

But I digress.

I had to use the secateurs on some dead wood and I imagine that this will strain them more then if I had in live wood, as the sap smoothens it

[footdee]

These videos are really great, thanks. I have an apple tree I got last year and hopefully can keep it good by following your advice here :)

[kabazza]

Excellent tute, thanks for sharing the knowledge :) - now im off to "re-balance' my apple factory...

[Newmicon]

Thanks for the tips, I really need to get pruing my apple trees, they've gone wild!

[brown55061]

Great info, the video is appreciated! OFF TO GET MY PRUNING TOOLS!

[jofroger]

all you do is to plant apple trees is you dig a hole in your yard then you have to buy potting soil am planted it in my yard and it totily grow am on my forth leaf right now and it works trust me!!!!!!

[tirannus83]

Realy useful vid. What is Your advice against ants? I don't understand why, but on (and in) my aplle tree there are a lot of ants. What should I do with them?

Greetings from Hungary!

[introtogov]

to tirannus83

Regarding ants: I have an organic orchard. Sometimes ants are "farming" aphids curled into the leaves. Check for that. A sprinkling of talcum powder around the base of the trunk will repel ants. Use the real talcum powder, not the cornstarch powder. Good luck.

[penasco98]

Thanks Stephen!, I got an Apple tree about 3 years now I plnted 3 summers ago after I ate the apple I put the seed in the ground... and it GREW! I live in Phoenix,AZ,USA a desert, i also have an avacado Tree next to it as well as another(think its Granny Smith apple) Apple tree came up but looks slightly diffrent... do you reccommend growing all these trees together? Remember I live in a desert and have managed to get these trees to grow I dont want to transplant

[stephenhayesuk]

Apples don't like desert conditions. Some varieties do better than others, consult a local tree nursery. Also, if you plant a pip from an apple you ate, it will not grow true to that variety. That is one of the great things about apples, their incredible variety, but they do not grow true from seed.

If you have hot dry conditions you may be better off growing tree fruits like peaches, oranges, figs and apricots.

[oliverburke]

Thank you, Stephen. This is much better than looking at funny pix and reading nomenclaturised pages :) Very handy.

One thing: the camera is too close to what you're doing on vid 1 and (esp.)2.

This is JUST what I was looking for, however!!

(And don't knock yourself. Stay amateur, but a pruning vid is not out of your league. It's quite helpful, thanks. Youtube is sooo accessible!)

Many thanks!

[stephenhayesuk]

Thanks for the offer Declan.

I love New Zealand and in 1999 cycled from Auckland to Invercargill.

I am so aware of the technical deficiencies of these presentations, self filmed on a small pocket camera (Sony Cybershot DSC P200). However, I doubt  there is enough money in an apple tree pruning DVD to justify the cost of producing something more professional. In any event, I am very much an 'enthusiastic amateur' whose name would hardly sell a pruning video.

[dieselghost]

well, ,i would certainly buy one.. :)

[DeclanMagic]

Well Done Stephen. I am a filmmaker in New Zealand would lend my skills for anyone putting up information this helpful. Thanks again

[cliffthegardener]

Stephen, Well done, I have been contemplating putting a video on here to tell people how to prune a bush tree. Excellent advice - particularly the use of the secateurs. It is surprising how many people do not know how to use them. Well done