very hard cut back on apple tree

hi all

ive got a apple tree in the garden of the new place we have moved into which has never had the correct care and attention it needs, and is full of canker etc.

i thought that i could give it a good prune out and be left with something half decent but its not to be.

i have been thinking it over for a while now and decided to ask for the pro's in the fruit side's advice.

my chioces as i see them are:

remove the tree compleatly and replant another some were else (not to happy to do this if i can help it because the apples from this tree are gorgeous)

or i was thinking about takeing the tree back to its trunk removeing every thing (which is dead diying or full of canker) back to a stump 3ft from the ground and letting the new growth come trough so i could start to train that etc.

the second option is not something i have ever done which is why im unsure it will work but i do know that 90% of this tree is far past help.

any ideas would be greatfully recived as fruit trees have never been my fortay other than pruning into goblett and removeing dead wood etc.

thanks guys

A lot of trees can hollow out and survive for many decades, It is the dead hardwood that dissapears, the sap runs under the bark on the outer part of the trunk and branches and as long as this layer is intact on at least part of the trunk or branch then it will continue to survive.

That tree sounds amazing Adam, would love to see a picture of that!

Adam Pilgrim said:

Intresting point Claire - a friend of mine has a huge apple tree in his garden (village records have it at well over 100 years old) - it is totally rotten throughout and has been for many many years - most branches have the centre 6" or so totally missing, yet it still fruits prolifically year on year... Strange how this can happen!

Claire Brown said:

I wouldn't suggest doing either -

when I arrived in my garden, I also had a tree that was too large, full of canker and misshapen because of conifer hedge.

over the last 3 years i've renovated it so that it is now a shaped (won't say beautifully) and healthier tree, but i'm now taking whips from it to root so that I have wood for producing future trees of the same variety.

So my advice is - if you cut it back too hard you will only get whip wood that won't produce apples and will strain the tree even more. - Thin out the dead and damaged branches a few at a time. - I've seen completely rotten to the centre trees keep giving some apples for years.

Replies

andy @Doughty Garden Maintenance January 12, 2012 at 9:08pm

could you post any pictures of it Neal?
PRO

Neal Barker @ Etesia uk January 12, 2012 at 9:38pm

i will get some on sat because i leave for work in the dark and get back in the dark so i wont get a good pic till then
PRO

Brian www.mibservices.co.uk January 12, 2012 at 9:44pm

I wouldnt advise hard pruning, fruit trees dont like hard pruning, general rule of thumb is NO MORE than 1/3 of the tree pruned in any one year. Pruning of neglected fruit trees has to be done over a number of winters, preferably at the start of winter, not mid winter, to much risk of frost damage , having said that if your in far south that shouldnt be too much of an issue. I reckon you will kill the tree if you pollard it back to its trunk.
andy @Doughty Garden Maintenance January 12, 2012 at 9:48pm

I don't reckon cutting it off at the trunk will be advisable, in fact it will probably kill it,

Best to cut all the dead wood out and see what you have left to work with, Don't get rid of it though, over a couple of years or so you might get a good tree.

pop the pictures on when you can though, easier to say when i've seen it.

Cheers,
Claire Brown January 12, 2012 at 9:49pm

I wouldn't suggest doing either -

when I arrived in my garden, I also had a tree that was too large, full of canker and misshapen because of conifer hedge.

over the last 3 years i've renovated it so that it is now a shaped (won't say beautifully) and healthier tree, but i'm now taking whips from it to root so that I have wood for producing future trees of the same variety.

So my advice is - if you cut it back too hard you will only get whip wood that won't produce apples and will strain the tree even more. - Thin out the dead and damaged branches a few at a time. - I've seen completely rotten to the centre trees keep giving some apples for years.
PRO

Adam Pilgrim January 12, 2012 at 10:04pm

Intresting point Claire - a friend of mine has a huge apple tree in his garden (village records have it at well over 100 years old) - it is totally rotten throughout and has been for many many years - most branches have the centre 6" or so totally missing, yet it still fruits prolifically year on year... Strange how this can happen!

Claire Brown said:

I wouldn't suggest doing either -

when I arrived in my garden, I also had a tree that was too large, full of canker and misshapen because of conifer hedge.

over the last 3 years i've renovated it so that it is now a shaped (won't say beautifully) and healthier tree, but i'm now taking whips from it to root so that I have wood for producing future trees of the same variety.

So my advice is - if you cut it back too hard you will only get whip wood that won't produce apples and will strain the tree even more. - Thin out the dead and damaged branches a few at a time. - I've seen completely rotten to the centre trees keep giving some apples for years.
andy @Doughty Garden Maintenance January 12, 2012 at 10:10pm

A lot of trees can hollow out and survive for many decades, It is the dead hardwood that dissapears, the sap runs under the bark on the outer part of the trunk and branches and as long as this layer is intact on at least part of the trunk or branch then it will continue to survive.

That tree sounds amazing Adam, would love to see a picture of that!

Adam Pilgrim said:

Intresting point Claire - a friend of mine has a huge apple tree in his garden (village records have it at well over 100 years old) - it is totally rotten throughout and has been for many many years - most branches have the centre 6" or so totally missing, yet it still fruits prolifically year on year... Strange how this can happen!

Claire Brown said:

I wouldn't suggest doing either -

when I arrived in my garden, I also had a tree that was too large, full of canker and misshapen because of conifer hedge.

over the last 3 years i've renovated it so that it is now a shaped (won't say beautifully) and healthier tree, but i'm now taking whips from it to root so that I have wood for producing future trees of the same variety.

So my advice is - if you cut it back too hard you will only get whip wood that won't produce apples and will strain the tree even more. - Thin out the dead and damaged branches a few at a time. - I've seen completely rotten to the centre trees keep giving some apples for years.
Sean Busby January 12, 2012 at 11:07pm

Hi Neal, have a look at Stephen Hayes excellent website http://www.fruitwise.net/menu.html
All things apple, including links to his YouTube videos.
PRO

Neal Barker @ Etesia uk January 14, 2012 at 11:30am

thanks for all the help guys, i will get pic up on here later.

when the sun is above the garden so its better light.