Rules for pruning apple trees in the fall
Caring for fruit seedlings includes the obligatory pruning of the crown. A properly performed procedure will rejuvenate trees, increase their yield and improve the quality of fruits. Pruning apple trees in the fall helps protect plants from garden pests.
Rules for pruning apple trees in the fall
Trimming tasks
The main goal pursued by gardeners when pruning seedlings is to obtain a high-quality apple harvest. A properly shaped crown helps trees develop much faster. Thanks to improved illumination and ventilation, the yield of aromatic apples increases significantly.
It is necessary to prune the branches of the apple trees in the garden regularly, this helps to rejuvenate the seedlings. Sick, dry and weakened branches are replaced by young and strong shoots.
Carrying out timely pruning of fruit trees provides:
- stimulation of the growth of young shoots;
- the appearance of more fruiting branches;
- prevention of fungal diseases;
- ease of fruit collection;
- autumn care for seedlings;
- preparation for wintering.
Pruning must be done carefully: acting carelessly can harm the health of the trees. There are several ways to prune apple trees in the fall. They apply their own schemes to seedlings of different ages.
In young trees, the crown should not be pruned too much. It is necessary to shorten the shoots that have grown intensively in the last period, due to which, with the arrival of spring and the onset of warm weather, a beautiful crown will grow in the young.
With the help of medium pruning, the correct crown shape is formed in seedlings aged 6-7 years. This not only rejuvenates the trees, but also increases their yield. The branches are almost halved in the process of strong pruning of the apple trees. Getting rid of a significant part of the crown allows the fruit to ripen faster in direct sunlight.
Dates of the
If other work on cleaning the garden has already been completed (top dressing has been introduced, seedlings have been whitewashed, the earth has been dug up), and the weather is dry in the yard, it's time to start pruning garden trees.
Autumn pruning of apple trees, like pears, is carried out to prepare plants for the winter. You need to start the procedure after the seedlings have completely shed all the foliage. Consider the climatic conditions in your region.
Pruning is not carried out at sub-zero temperatures. The best option is when it is outside up to minus 4 ° C. With more severe frosts, the branches of apple trees become excessively brittle.
By region
The appropriate time for pruning fruit trees in Russia differs depending on the weather conditions at that latitude. In the middle climatic zone (Moscow region), old branches begin to get rid of in September. Garden work organized during this period will help prepare the garden for wintering.
In the southern latitudes (Crimea, Caucasus, Krasnodar Territory), the timing of apple pruning is significantly shifted.It starts in October and ends in November.
It is not necessary to carry out a similar procedure in the northern regions (Siberia): the wounds formed in the places of the cuts will not have time to heal before the onset of frost. Some people prefer to organize apple pruning not in autumn, but in spring at a stable above-zero temperature.
Lunar calendar
Many gardeners determine favorable terms for pruning trees according to the lunar calendar. In 2019, this work can be done in October (5-12, 22-25 and 27-30). In November, suitable days are 3-7, 12-15 and 18-21. In the warm weather prevailing in early December, branches continue to be cut this month - 3-5, 8-11, 15-16.
Required tools
Tools must be well sharpened
Cutting the crown of an apple tree in the fall is carried out using special tools. Advice for beginners: purchase a pruner, a hacksaw and a knife from a profile store in advance. If you already have a garden toolbox, make sure they are sharp. Remember to handle all of them carefully at the end of the procedure.
You need to prune the branches carefully, avoiding torn cuts, otherwise in the next season the seedlings will not bring a rich harvest, since the wounds will heal for a very long time. The rules for pruning the crown are to use special tools that help the cuts to grow faster.
Most often used garden var. This preparation includes wax, tallow, gum, vegetable oil, and alcohol. After cutting, the cutting must be sealed with resin.
Depending on the type
The types of pruning of fruit trees (pears, plums, apricots) differ depending on the type of seedlings. There are separate schemes for the removal of shoots for dwarf and columnar apple trees.
Dwarf
The autumn planting of this type of tree also provides for the simultaneous pruning of branches. In October, the crown is shortened depending on the size of the root system of the seedlings. If the apple tree has small and weak roots, you will have to shorten the branches by 1/3 of the length.
With the onset of spring, this procedure must be repeated. In dwarf apple trees, first-order branches are removed, which thicken the crown and interfere with the normal development of the fruit. You need to cut off the shoots, stepping back 35-40 cm from the main tree trunk. The correct procedure includes removing dry shoots, which will allow young branches to develop faster.
Top tips for beginners: dwarf varieties that grow in the garden for no more than 2-4 years have abundant fruiting, so pruning should be done regularly. Renewing old shoots will not only speed up the growth of apple trees, but also bring you a good harvest.
After 5 years, many fruit trees are completely exhausted, which manifests itself in the crushing of fruits, loss of taste of apples, the occurrence of fungal diseases in seedlings. During this period, it is especially important to provide proper care for the apple trees.
Cut off not only disturbing branches, but also strong branches. This radical method activates the growth of foliage and the increase in fruit.
Columnar
The rules for the cultivation of these fruit trees do not include the compulsory crown formation. Such a need arises only when the upper part of the main trunk is damaged, which leads to the active growth of lateral shoots.
In this case, during the pruning process, you need to leave one of the strongest offshoot. Prune old branches as much as possible. Then, in the next season, young and actively fruiting shoots will grow from them.
Please note that the buds of columnar trees are chaotically located, therefore, if you leave too many side branches, the apple tree will direct all its efforts to their development, which will significantly worsen the quality of the fruit. The annual autumn pruning of excess shoots will help to correct the situation.
The scheme for the formation of branches in columnar trees is as follows:
- in the first year, the main trunk is formed by cutting the lateral processes at the level of 30-35 cm;
- on the second, the upper branches are carefully pinched;
- on the third, old shoots are removed, the entire crown is carefully thinned out.
Scheme for an old tree
An old tree must have a healthy trunk
The rules for pruning old apple trees for beginners are very simple. Remember that trees in the garden that are 15-20 years old are rejuvenated in this way. Before starting work, carefully examine the apple tree.
The tree must be healthy and strong. It is important that the main trunk remains viable and not damaged. The optimal time for this procedure is the beginning of autumn.
The rejuvenation of old apple trees includes 3 main stages:
- for a start, sick, broken and dried shoots are removed from them. Make sure that there is no lichen on the tree;
- at the second stage, excess crown density, shoots formed from dormant buds (tops), and branches that interfere with each other are removed. An important point at this stage is to shorten the trunk, which will help open up the central part of the crown. The main shoot should not be higher than 3.5-4 m;
- the next step is to give the crown the correct shape. Several tiers of strong branches are left on the trees. These should be healthy branches growing at a distance of 50-65 cm from each other. Leave at least 3 young shoots at the top.
This procedure, carried out simultaneously with the introduction of mineral fertilization, will allow old trees to renew their strength and activate fruiting.
Scheme for a young tree
Care for young apple trees begins immediately after planting them in the ground. After a year of active growth, the branches continue to remain underdeveloped, therefore, the tops of the trees are pruned. An annual tree should not exceed 85-110 cm.
Carefully remove all shoots that have grown on the trunk at a distance of 65-70 cm from the ground. Leave only those branches on the tree that extend at right angles from the trunk.
Remember; one shoot should have at least 3-5 buds.
In the second year, they are engaged in the formation of the crown. Several main shoots are left on the seedlings. The lower branches should be longer than the higher ones. The optimal ratio is 45 to 20 cm. If you notice that a second main shoot has formed on the tree, do not forget to remove it.
In a three-year-old apple tree, pruning is minimal. It is important to remove tops and branches that have appeared over the winter, which prevent each other from developing normally. At the age of 4-5 years, you should not cut off the shoots once again. If they are formed evenly and do not thicken the crown, the seedlings develop normally.
In young trees, pruning of shoots is carried out with a well-sharpened pruner, and hardened branches must be cut down with a saw. Try to make even and accurate cuts, then the bark on the seedlings will overgrow very quickly.
Care after pruning
In order for fruit seedlings to develop normally and bear fruit well, after cutting the crown, they need appropriate care. Places of cuts are lubricated with garden varnish, which helps the plant to recover after the procedure. After applying the drug to sore spots, the branches are wrapped with creeping tape (polyethylene).
Var for processing slices can be purchased in specialized stores or prepared at home. The recipe for warm liquid is more often used. To prepare it, mix 450-500 g of turpentine and rosin, add 300 g of any vegetable oil (sunflower, olive, linseed). The tool is used in a heated state.
Another type of var is cold liquid. Rosin, resin, alcohol and ghee are used as the main ingredients. For the same purposes, use ordinary paint mixed with oil. Carefully study the composition indicated on the bank. It is forbidden to use nitroenamel for processing cuts on trees.
Major mistakes
There are a number of mistakes that novice gardeners make.
Pruning of seedlings is done from time to time and fruit trees can be thrown.After a few years of such an indifferent attitude, the plants begin to wither and ache, the harvest becomes shallow and becomes tasteless. In order to somehow remedy the situation, gardeners begin to actively prune apple trees, which only causes a deterioration in the condition of the trees.
The seedlings are suspended in development, directing the available forces to the formation of new shoots, and not to the fruits. therefore, the formation of the crown of fruit trees is carried out on an ongoing basis, along with other activities aimed at preparing the garden for winter.
If you have already managed to start fruit seedlings, cut off the shoots in several stages, then this procedure will be less traumatic for them.
Many leave hemp on the shoots after cutting the seedlings. Try to remove the branches "on the ring", then the plant will heal the wound that appears on its own. The new bark will keep germs from entering and stem rotting.
When large stumps remain when pruning the crown, the tree cannot grow young bark at the cut points, which leads to a deterioration in the health of the seedlings.
One of the most common mistakes is the unreasonable removal of shoots on fruit trees. Crown pruning should be done as needed. The removal of the top of a tree during the period of its active growth can be especially harmful, which will provoke the formation of multiple tops.
As a result, the seedlings will concentrate their energy on growing side shoots, and not on the formation of apples. It is important to watch out for moderation of pruning. Do not shorten the crown of fruit trees too much. When removing large branches, pay attention to the integrity of the bark on the trunk.
Breaking off heavy shoots leads to painful seizures that take a long time to heal. Wounds can be a source of fungal infections. To avoid this mistake, when pruning large shoots, first clear them of small shoots.
It is forbidden to process the cut site with garden varnish immediately after removing the shoot. Wait 1-2 days and only then carefully coat the wound.
If you do not make these mistakes, you will easily be able to prune the apple tree in the fall.