Summer pruning apples

Summer pruning is a useful technique for apples grown on restricted forms such as fans, espaliers, codons and dwarf pyramids. It helps to restrict vigour and allows light to get in  to the developing fruits to improve sweetness in eating varieties and improve colour. I tend not to use this technique on bush and standard trees as it can be time consuming and there is never a shortage of things to do in summer. Summer pruning espaliers, cordons and fans is a relatively quick task and is essential for best results.

Summer pruning in the UK is usually done from mid July to September. All you need to do is to prune the shoots that grow from the main branches (laterals) than have grown in excess of 20 cm (8 inches) and cut these back to about three buds (you do not need to be precise). Any laterals than have not grown in excess of 20 cm are best left unpruned and may well develop fruit buds at their tips. Strong vertical growth is unproductive and will result in excessive vigour at the expense of fruiting. These strong vertical shoots need complete removal and this is where a pruning knife can come in handy. Do no leave a stub as new growth will follow and you will need to cut these out. Take the shoots out at the very base and do not worry about leaving a small wound, it will heal very quickly in summer. 

Any secondary growth from shortened laterals can be removed in September.

Start to summer prune cordon, espalier and fan apples in July

Espalier apples