Tree trimming - Ask Extension
Good afternoon,
I have two trees that were chewed off by deer a number of years ago. We’ve let them grow and I’m thinking they need some prunin...
Knowledgebase
Tree trimming #867560
Asked May 08, 2024, 12:00 PM EDT
Good afternoon,
I have two trees that were chewed off by deer a number of years ago. We’ve let them grow and I’m thinking they need some pruning now.
When is a good time to trim/prune apple trees?
Can you give any suggestions as one of them has several branches growing upwards.
One is short and wide. The other tall and skinny.
Isanti County Minnesota
Expert Response
Deer do love apple wood and can really cause problems. It is too late to consider pruning much now. Diseases like fire blight are already present. So on a dry day when there has been no rain prune out branches that are crossing and rubbing or any broken branches. Plan on pruning next year before leaf out. The one on the left could be given a heading cut as described in the reference links. The tree on the right looks like a candidate for an open form and no central leader. You tube has many videos on how to prune apple trees and I find it very useful to watch 3-5 of them when I am learning something new.
https://www.bhg.com/pruning-apple-trees-6755200#:~:text=Late%20winter%20or%20early%20spring,in%20fall%20or%20early%20winter.
https://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/how-to-grow/fruit-trees/apple-
trees/pruninghttps://www.finegardening.com/project-guides/pruning/two-ways-to-prune-new-fruit-trees
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-prune-and-train-young-apple-trees
https://www.bhg.com/pruning-apple-trees-6755200#:~:text=Late%20winter%20or%20early%20spring,in%20fall%20or%20early%20winter.
https://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/how-to-grow/fruit-trees/apple-
trees/pruninghttps://www.finegardening.com/project-guides/pruning/two-ways-to-prune-new-fruit-trees
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-prune-and-train-young-apple-trees
