How to Prune Apple Trees | Tips for Pruning Espaliered Apple Trees

It's that time of year again and I'm ready to get out there and show you how to prune apple trees one more time. We'll go over some tips for pruning espaliered apple trees for fruit production as well as shaping them. These pruning techniques will also apply to standard upright growing apple trees.

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[TheMillennialGardener]

I hope my apple and pear trees look as good as yours one day. The form is excellent.

[campbellpaul]

Apple tree pruning is an art unto itself! Thank you for furthering our collective knowledge on the subject, Mr. K, it is much appreciated!

[alandrury]

Thanks for my annual pruning fix! Gives me confidence I'm on the right lines with my two trees over here. If your trees were my trees I think I'd leave the lower branches in. They might not be fruiting much now, but once the tree is older I think they'll join in. And given the amount of fruit you got last year I can't see those lower branches are robbing very much if anything at all. Plus if you chop them out you won't be able to replace them and you'll be moving away from that classic espailier look. It's your call, I'll be interested to see what you decide and why

[chriswoodruff]

Excellent video! You have a great communication style!

[wildbullfrog]

Starting my first espaliered apple trees this year. Thanks for the winter pruning tips.

[beckyschlegel]

I’ve pruned my central branches out more to promote side growth. Thanks for the bud - I’ve had a hard time finding espalier systems.

[ChocolateMelanin]

Perfect timing, I was looking at my apple & pear tree today. Thanks for sharing 😊

[camicri]

Hi Mike! Is February 6 today 🤣🤣🤣(could not resist the smart remark) Lucky, I love apples! I planted some, will see! At the other house I didn't have any fruit, hopefully will have some here. Please 🙏 for me, dad is home on hospice and is so sad. I have been stressing about it and my husband had a heart attack in Nov, I was in the er almost a month ago, my blood pressure is so high....ugh! Praise God for He strengthens me every moment. Great video, good to see you like always! Hugs and blessings 🤗💞🤗

[PlantObsessed]

This is very timely. I just tore out my 40 foot old apple trees. Time to start over. This seems way more manageable. Thanks 👍🏼

[colkelwil]

Thanks for your inspiration Mike. I have two pear trees that I want to plant in a limited space. Planting them in the espalier style is exactly the answer to the issue. Blessings to you and those you love!

[jodalry]

Thanks for a great video. I’m about to set up some apple and pear trees as espalier and found your video exceptionally helpful. Liked and subscribed immediately! 👍🏻😎

[RanchExplorerHQ]

Thanks Mike, it helps me with my fruit trees and grapes!

[steverobinson]

Mike, Thanks for the vid. Nice job!!! My vote would be to keep the first scaffold. Those branches will provide much needed photo synthesis for a heavily ladened fruit set. And seems to me that espalier is a heavily pruned tree. Each tree just might benefit from those little solar panels (leaves) even if the branches themselves do not set much fruit. I am no just a guess on my part. Cheers!!!!

[lukeott]

Thanks a bunch Mike. As always excellent work and great job of explaining what you’re doing. It sure helps.

[stephaniehill]

Yeah I'm agreeing with you about trimming the bottom branches due to the fact they are not producing well. And I like the idea about running it with the fencing I'm going to try that

[mustafaahmed]

Thanks dear, Mike you give new techniq about apple 🍎 treatment Thanks

[gromageindustries]

I'd leave the lower T branches, you've reduced the apical vigor which will distribute the auxin through the whole of the tree and will help give vigour to the bottom branches and therefore more fruit. I wouldnt say the bottom branching will rob the upper branching, I'd say they would give more vigour to the tree over all and more apples as there will be more leaves doing their thing to be able to grow and sustain more fruit. More leaves, more growth all over. Once the lower branching sprouts are 2 years old you will get more fruit spurs growing. They also look right, imagine them gone, there will be a big unnecessary un optomised space under the top T branching. For every reason I'd leave them. Beautiful trees by the way 🙏

[mulhertementeadeus]

Thank you for the informative video. I'm ready to go out to the garden and do some pruning on my apples and pears, espalier trees.
:)

[nickjcage]

Great video Mike! Your trees are looking super!! I'm trying to espalier my fig trees with this same technique. I vote you keep the lower branches.

[mtlefty]

I'd love to see a video on how Mrs. K. makes and preserves the apple pie filling. Yum!