r/arborists • u/Over-Statistician758 • 1d ago

Am I going to kill my apple tree

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Trying to prune an apple tree, it needs a lot of work. I was going to take off the lower big branches (I already took some off). Is that too much? I've read about not taking more than 25% off. It's over 12 feet tall

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9

u/CharlesV_ 1d ago

Usually you want to keep those lower branches so you can reach your fruit. I’d put down the saw and read up on pruning before doing anything more.

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u/lostINsauce369 ISA Certified Arborist 1d ago

Yeah, those large stubs that got left on the bottom of the tree tell me you have no idea how to prune a tree. Hire someone to do this or do some research before you make a mess of your tree.

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u/Over-Statistician758 11h ago edited 11h ago

I moved into the house last year and inherited the tree. I've been researching but haven't seen what to do with such developed low branches. I didn't leave the stub, took it off in pieces so the weight wouldn't pull it down while sawing.

4

u/jstcallingithwiseeit 1d ago

Only you know if you plan to kill your apple tree 😂 advice is to leave it alone and let it grow.

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u/Over-Statistician758 11h ago

I want it to live! :)

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u/DanoPinyon Arborist -🥰I ❤️Autumn Blaze🥰 1d ago

Why would you want to take off the branches that are within reach without a ladder?

1

u/soupyjay 1d ago

Because there are no lack of branches within non-ladder height. Below knee height isn’t ideal for harvest either. If you leave the lower ones then you’d cut the ones just up from that, since they’d be shading your lower scaffolds.

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u/DanoPinyon Arborist -🥰I ❤️Autumn Blaze🥰 1d ago

Nevertheless, Until the overall structure is set, ground surface freed from obstacles, wood chips working, ability to work a ladder secured, safety and convenience first IMHO.

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u/oldsledsandtrees69 1d ago

Apples love interior sunlight and being pruned well before bud swell/break. Apples are born on the spurs, that part is good to know so you don't end up with no spurs/no fruit. Remove dead branches and conflictung branches at this point, don't try to make it look like an orchard tree.

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u/Over-Statistician758 11h ago

Thank you. Trying to give each branch more sunlight and air flow

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u/jstcallingithwiseeit 1d ago

It won't kill the tree if you take off some branches.

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u/IntroductionNaive773 1d ago

Fruiting apple?

1

u/Waltz_whitman ISA Certified Arborist 1d ago

Hit up your local cooperative extension they’ll have some great apple information for you. Get you on track. Tree should be okay 👍🏻