How to prune an apple tree – A video guide
Click video to start
Pruning an apple tree doesn’t have to be complicated. The aim is simple: create a balanced, open structure that allows light and air to move freely through the tree, while encouraging the formation of fruiting buds.
If a tree is reasonably healthy and not in need of full restoration, it’s important not to remove more than one third of the canopy in a single year. Pruning too hard can cause the tree to respond by producing lots of fresh green growth, which won’t produce apples for a couple of years.
At GardenAdvice, when we are renovating very old or neglected apple trees, we may prune back by more than a third. In these cases, the following year is spent selecting and thinning new shoots to rebuild a strong, productive structure.
Understanding What to Prune
Summer Shoots (What to Reduce)
Summer shoots are long, green shoots produced during the growing season. These do not carry fruiting buds initially and are the main targets for pruning.
- Reduce summer shoots by between one third and two thirds
- These shoots will eventually develop into fruiting wood if managed correctly
Fruiting Buds (What to Keep)
Fruiting buds are easy to spot once you know what to look for:
- Short, stubby shoots
- Often have visible rings at the base
- These buds will produce flowers in spring and apples later in the year
The goal of pruning is to retain and encourage as many fruiting buds as possible.
Remove Problem Wood
While pruning, also remove:
- Dead wood
- Damaged branches
- Diseased growth
- Crossing or rubbing branches
Canker
Canker often appears as a gnarly or sunken area on a branch.
- If it occurs midway along a branch, it’s best to prune it out
- Swelling or knobbly growth at the base of the tree (especially near the graft) is usually not a problem
Tree Shape Matters
Apple trees fruit best on horizontal or gently angled branches.
Commercial orchards sometimes weigh down branches to encourage this shape. You can apply the same principle when pruning:
- Avoid strong upright growth
- Aim for a balanced, open canopy
- Horizontal branches produce more fruiting hormones along their length, not just at the tips
Winter Protection & Pest Control
Once the leaves have fallen:
- Apply an organic winter wash (such as Vitax Winter Wash)
- This oil-based wash runs into cracks and crevices
- It kills overwintering pests and eggs before they re-emerge in spring
Winter washing is best done in colder months, when bees are less active.
Additional pest-control measures:
- Apply grease bands to the trunk to stop crawling insects
- Hang pheromone traps in spring to control pests like codling moth
- Sow calendula around the base of the tree to support natural pest control
Feeding & Watering for Better Crops
Feeding
- Apply a couple of handfuls of Growmore in winter
- Winter rain will wash nutrients down to the roots
- In spring and summer, use a liquid tomato feed (high in potash) to support flowering and fruit development
Watering
- In a dry spring, water the tree after flowering once fruit starts to form
- A few watering cans can help the tree hold onto its fruit
- This can increase yields by up to 25%
- Avoid overwatering, as this can cause fruit to split
A Final Reassurance
There is no single “perfect” way to prune an apple tree. Despite the huge amount of conflicting advice online, apple trees are very forgiving.
If you get it wrong one year, the tree will recover – and you’ll always get another chance next season.
Quick Task Checklist: Basic Apple Tree Pruning
Pruning
- Prune no more than one third of the canopy in a single year
- Identify and reduce summer shoots by ⅓–⅔
- Keep short, stubby fruiting buds
- Remove dead, damaged, diseased, or crossing branches
- Prune out canker if found midway along a branch
- Aim for an open, airy structure with good airflow
Shape & Structure
- Encourage horizontal branches
- Reduce strong upright growth
- Maintain a balanced canopy
Winter Care
- Apply organic winter wash
- Fit grease bands to the trunk
Pest & Plant Health
- Hang pheromone traps in spring
- Sow calendula around the base of the tree
Feeding & Watering
- Apply Growmore in winter
- Use liquid tomato feed in spring/summer
- Water in dry springs once fruit starts forming
