Gardening expert names exactly the best time to prune apple trees

There are few things more satisfying than biting down on home-grown apples – but there’s one important task that should be done at a particular time of year first.

Whether it’s your first time growing apple trees or you’re an experienced arborist, most gardeners are aware that pruning is a crucial task. Pruning helps maintain tree health, promotes fruit production, and shapes the tree for optimal growth. A key part of pruning involves cutting away dead, damaged or diseased branches, usually using tools like secateurs, loppers or pruning saws.

Part of the reason is because pruning increases the air flow throughout the tree by removing crowded branches, allowing the tree to dry faster and which reduces the risk of issues like fungal disease.

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It also increases the amount of sunlight which penetrates the tree. This in turn encourages the fruit to develop and ripen. Some tips to remember when pruning apple trees is keep the tree’s outward-facing shoots, unless they are badly damaged, and remove any crossing shoots that are rubbing together.

You should also focus on remove low, downward-growing branches that may block light and cause obstructions. Equally, young side shoots (also known as laterals) are best left unpruned. This allows them to develop fruit buds in the tree's second year of growth.

You should also remove excess height on larger, more mature apple trees by up to a third. This helps keeps them healthy and can improve fruit quality.

However, there are certain times of the year that are better for pruning than others. According to an expert gardener, you should wait until winter to start cutting them back.

Ali Lijee, gardener and founder of TreeMend, told Country Living: “Although apple trees can be pruned throughout the year, winter to early spring (while the tree is still dormant) is when trees can benefit the most.”

He explained that pruning during this time carries two major benefits. One, it helps reduce the risk of disease, as common pathogens and pests are less active during this time.

Secondly, it gives the tree a fresh start and encourages strong, healthy growth in the upcoming growing season. Perfect if you're looking forward to enjoying a delicious crop of apples in the following year!

However, you don’t necessarily have to abide by this timeline when it comes to pruning. Ben Branson, expert tree coppicer and founder of Sylva, told Country Living that he has been experimenting with a late summer pruning with great results.