How to prune an apple tree correctly?

Every gardener knows that planting fruit trees in their garden is not enough. In order for them to grow well and produce crops, they need regular and correct pruning. This will preserve the health of the tree, give strength to its shoots, ensure a good harvest, and in addition, form the correct crown, which will be not only convenient for processing, but also beautiful in appearance.

Now you can find a lot of different tips and even tutorials on how to properly prune an apple tree. We will consider the main aspects of this procedure.

The first step, of course, is to understand why apple pruning is needed. The meaning of this procedure is to prevent the crown of the tree from becoming too bulky, since in this case the fruits from the tree can crumble heavily, and the tree itself will begin to spend more energy and resources on branches and leaves than on fruits, which will make them less juicy. and will lead to a decrease in their number.

Regular and full pruning of the apple tree must be started when the tree reaches the age of 5 years. As a rule, this procedure is carried out in early spring, even before the tree has come out of hibernation and buds have blossomed on it. Pruning usually removes about two-thirds of the branches.

When asked how to properly prune an apple tree, any gardener will tell you that the key to success is a well-sharpened tool, which includes a soft saw for large branches and a pruner for smaller branches. The smoother the cut, the faster it will heal on the tree. After removing the branch, the cut site must be treated with garden varnish or paint made on the basis of drying oil.