Lee Burkhill: Award Winning Designer & BBC 1's Garden Rescue Presenters Official Blog
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Whether you are a beginner or an expert gardener, it's a safe place to ask garden-related questions for garden design or planting. If you have a problem in your garden or need help, this is the Garden Forum for you!
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I am a British grandma living in France for the past 5 years now.
I have a question that I cannot find the answer to please help.
I have 2 apple trees that are 3.5 years old planted in huge containers ( we live on bedrock so not able to plant) they are healthy and doing well one is Coxes pippin the other is Annie Elizabeth (cooker). I have 3 other pollinators. The issue I have is that I want to summer prune them as they have gone mad and are really too big. Now, this is not easy to explain but the coxes pippin has very long branches and just leaves at the very top. If I reduce the height this will remove all of these leaves as there are none growing further down that I can prune to. What should I do I don't want to make a mistake and be left without blossoms or fruits next year. The same goes for Annie Elizabeth as this I believe is a tip and spur bearer . I am a very confused first-time apple grower!!!
Hi my name is kim,
I am a British grandma living in France for the past 5 years now.
I have a question that I cannot find the answer to please help.
I have 2 apple trees that are 3.5 years old planted in huge containers ( we live on bedrock so not able to plant) they are healthy and doing well one is Coxes pippin the other is Annie Elizabeth (cooker). I have 3 other pollinators. The issue I have is that I want to summer prune them as they have gone mad and are really too big. Now, this is not easy to explain but the coxes pippin has very long branches and just leaves at the very top. If I reduce the height this will remove all of these leaves as there are none growing further down that I can prune to. What should I do I don't want to make a mistake and be left without blossoms or fruits next year. The same goes for Annie Elizabeth as this I believe is a tip and spur bearer . I am a very confused first-time apple grower!!!
May I suggest you have a look at Lee's video's on "You Tube"
There you will find one on pruning, you can get to his videos via the menu on this web site.
From the pictures you have provided, there is growth lower down the branches, I would suggest pruning / cutting back to this growtb, but please refer to Lee's video first, I cut back my own shrubs and small trees (Acers) but would hate to see any damage done yo your trees because of incorrect advice.
Regards
Bob
Hello Kim,
May I suggest you have a look at Lee's video's on "You Tube"
There you will find one on pruning, you can get to his videos via the menu on this web site.
From the pictures you have provided, there is growth lower down the branches, I would suggest pruning / cutting back to this growtb, but please refer to Lee's video first, I cut back my own shrubs and small trees (Acers) but would hate to see any damage done yo your trees because of incorrect advice.
I am a British grandma living in France for the past 5 years now.
I have a question that I cannot find the answer to please help.
I have 2 apple trees that are 3.5 years old planted in huge containers ( we live on bedrock so not able to plant) they are healthy and doing well one is Coxes pippin the other is Annie Elizabeth (cooker). I have 3 other pollinators. The issue I have is that I want to summer prune them as they have gone mad and are really too big. Now, this is not easy to explain but the coxes pippin has very long branches and just leaves at the very top. If I reduce the height this will remove all of these leaves as there are none growing further down that I can prune to. What should I do I don't want to make a mistake and be left without blossoms or fruits next year. The same goes for Annie Elizabeth as this I believe is a tip and spur bearer . I am a very confused first-time apple grower!!!
Hi Kim,
Thanks for your question. Pruning fruit trees is super simple once you have the basics in hand. Then you'll get years of healthy fruit and a lovely shaped tree to boot!
One thing to remember is summer pruning restricts growth and winter pruning encourages growth. So prune at the respectable time of year depending on what you want to achieve!
For tip bearers, you want to avoid late summer pruning as this can remove the tips where the fruit would be. So I only tentatively winter prune these varieties. Sometimes you need to sacrifice a years fruit to get the right shape.
I am a British grandma living in France for the past 5 years now.
I have a question that I cannot find the answer to please help.
I have 2 apple trees that are 3.5 years old planted in huge containers ( we live on bedrock so not able to plant) they are healthy and doing well one is Coxes pippin the other is Annie Elizabeth (cooker). I have 3 other pollinators. The issue I have is that I want to summer prune them as they have gone mad and are really too big. Now, this is not easy to explain but the coxes pippin has very long branches and just leaves at the very top. If I reduce the height this will remove all of these leaves as there are none growing further down that I can prune to. What should I do I don't want to make a mistake and be left without blossoms or fruits next year. The same goes for Annie Elizabeth as this I believe is a tip and spur bearer . I am a very confused first-time apple grower!!!
Hi Kim,
Thanks for your question. Pruning fruit trees is super simple once you have the basics in hand. Then you'll get years of healthy fruit and a lovely shaped tree to boot!
One thing to remember is summer pruning restricts growth and winter pruning encourages growth. So prune at the respectable time of year depending on what you want to achieve!
For tip bearers, you want to avoid late summer pruning as this can remove the tips where the fruit would be. So I only tentatively winter prune these varieties. Sometimes you need to sacrifice a years fruit to get the right shape.
Lee Burkhill: Award Winning Designer & BBC 1's Garden Rescue Presenters Official Blog
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