February Garden Tips

Time to Prune That Old Apple Tree

Yes now is a good time to prune that old apple tree, before any buds or flowers take hold. You need to hurry and complete the task before the end of February. If the weather remains cold and growing is slow to start then you may have untill St Patrick’s weekend.

Why does that tree need a haircut? Many reasons but generally it means to

•       Cut out dead wood
•        Shape a tree for appearance
•        Prune to promote fruit growth
•        Control the tree size and keep it healthy

Where to Start :  you will need a good sharp secateurs, asmall sharp pruning saw, a long handled pruner and lopper and a steady ladder.

•  Start by removing weak, dead, diseased, damaged and dying branches and twigs.
• Keep the centre of the tree open by removing crossing, touching branches with a sharp pruning saw. If several large branches need to be removed, spread the work over two or three winters as very hard pruning encourages even more vigorous growth
• Reduce the height and spread of any branches that have grown too large by cutting them back to a vigorous lower branch.
• Remove all watersprouts or new growth that is just a shoot from either a branch or from the base of the tree. These are just wood growth and will not bear fruit.

Where to Cut:

• To shorten a branch or twig, cut it back to a side branch or make the cut about 1/4 inch above the bud.
• Always prune above a bud facing the outside of a plant to force the new branch to grow in that direction.
• Now to prune for fruit growth, you need to know if the fruit is formed on spurs (off shoots of a main branch) or at the tips of branches

On Spur or Off Shoot Growth:

•  Shorten the previous year’s growth on each main branch by about one third to a bud facing in the required direction to encourage the development of new branches and spurs
• Cut back any young laterals (sideshoots) growing from the main framework to five or six buds if there is not enough space to allow them to grow as secondary branches

On Tip Fruiting Trees:

• Prune the previous year’s growth on each main branch and the most vigorous laterals (sideshoots) to the first strong bud. Leave unpruned laterals less than 30cm (1ft) long
• Cut back a proportion of older fruited wood to a young shoot or leaf bud to reduce congestion

Monkeypuzzle.ie will be delighted to help with any of the above or any other garden or landscaping matters.  Please call Daragh at 012897751