Apple and pear tree pruning - Ask Extension
Hello-
I live just north of Mt Pleasant and have 2 pear trees and 2 apple trees. When we bought our home in the early spring about 8 years ago, I d...
Knowledgebase
Apple and pear tree pruning #812121
Asked September 25, 2022, 11:59 AM EDT
Hello-
I live just north of Mt Pleasant and have 2 pear trees and 2 apple trees. When we bought our home in the early spring about 8 years ago, I didnt even know they were here and its only been the past 5 years Ive been trying to figure out how to care for them. Im struggling. My concern with the apples is size management. Ibhave been tring to remove dead and in the way branches iver the years, but i want to remove height. Even with a 12 ft pole thing there are apples I just can not pick. No clue specifically ehat kind of apples they are, but i can attach a puc of the ones I picked saturday. My pear trees are are different issue. They have been on the decline for the past few years. This year one got ruat that i couldnt stay ontop of and the other had fire blight..I think. I dont know how much i can prune this winter safely.
Im happy to take any pictures that would be helpful for you in helping me. Google overwhelms me and I just want to go into next year the best I can.
Thank you,
Tawnia Schwarting
Henry County Iowa
Expert Response
Properly pruning fruit trees can greatly increase the size and quality of the fruit yield and reduce some disease issues. Pruning can temporarily help with tree size/height, although the tree will always grow taller if they are not on dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstock. When apple or pear trees have become overgrown it can take several years to get them back to well-shaped and productive trees. This resource from Iowa State University walks through all the steps to prune apples and pears and specifically discusses pruning neglected trees (starting on page 26).
https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/Pruning-and-Training-Fruit-Trees
There is a lot of detail to this information which can make it a bit overwhelming so it will be beneficial to carefully review and understand the material before picking up the saw. The good news is you have plenty of time to "study" - the time to do this pruning is while the tree is dormant in the late winter/early spring. February and March are typically the best months for pruning in Iowa.
Further questions can be directed to your local county Extension office. This local resource is very helpful since they are familiar with trends and issues in your part of the state. Click on this link to get connected directly with a staff person in your county Extension office and ask your gardening question. https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/ask-gardening-question
Happy gardening!
--Aaron
https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/Pruning-and-Training-Fruit-Trees
There is a lot of detail to this information which can make it a bit overwhelming so it will be beneficial to carefully review and understand the material before picking up the saw. The good news is you have plenty of time to "study" - the time to do this pruning is while the tree is dormant in the late winter/early spring. February and March are typically the best months for pruning in Iowa.
Further questions can be directed to your local county Extension office. This local resource is very helpful since they are familiar with trends and issues in your part of the state. Click on this link to get connected directly with a staff person in your county Extension office and ask your gardening question. https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/ask-gardening-question
Happy gardening!
--Aaron
After googling I figure my cabbage having multiple heads is probably due to the worms earlier this year. What I can't find it what to do with a 7 headed cabbage. Can I pick 6 off? Is it just a lost cause? I was thinking of picking off the lower heads vut have found no information. If anyone had time to sharde advise I would be appreciated. I am attaching pics of the mutant hydra cabbage and one of a normal cabbage grown from the same seeds as reference. Thanks!
Tawnia.
Cabbage will produce multiple heads anytime the main stem is damaged. Sometimes, that damage comes from insects as you mentioned; other times could be from something like accidentally breaking off the main stem during transplanting.
It is not absolutely necessary to remove these heads. Leaving them in place means you will have much smaller cabbage heads but more of them. Depending on their intended use, this may not be a problem. If you want larger heads, removing all but the largest one can be done. Carefully remove the smaller heads using a pruners or sharp knife just below the base of the head. Ideally, this is done when the heads are smaller, giving the remaining head more time to develop into something larger. The small heads that are removed can be used - an opportunity to have an early bowl of coleslaw!
It is not absolutely necessary to remove these heads. Leaving them in place means you will have much smaller cabbage heads but more of them. Depending on their intended use, this may not be a problem. If you want larger heads, removing all but the largest one can be done. Carefully remove the smaller heads using a pruners or sharp knife just below the base of the head. Ideally, this is done when the heads are smaller, giving the remaining head more time to develop into something larger. The small heads that are removed can be used - an opportunity to have an early bowl of coleslaw!
