Fruitwise guide to pruning apple trees part 2

Second in a series of tutorials from the Fruitwise orchard in Hampshire, England. These tutorials are fairly rough and ready, please comment and make suggestions, I will try to add more information. It's January now, I hope to also look at fruit thinning in May and summer pruning and keep a sort of online orchard diary through the season so you can se how the trees I pruned for these videos do from now until harvest in autumn 2008. Story of our orchard is on http://www.fruitwise.net will take you to the blog, click on url for menu from there.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• fruitwise
• apple
• tree
• pruning
• prune
• orchard

[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

[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

[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.

[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?

[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.