How to Prune an Apple Tree So It Produces Fruit for Years to Come

A thriving apple tree is a wonderful addition to any garden. Not only are apple trees beautiful to look at and provide delicious fruit, but they're relatively low maintenance once established. One thing they can be finicky about is pruning. Proper pruning reduces the chances of the tree developing broken and diseased branches, but over-pruning can be detrimental to its overall health. 

To find out the best and safest way to prune apple trees, we chatted with an expert arborist and the owner of an orchard. Both shared their tips for pruning apple trees to keep them happy and healthy for many years to come.

Importance of Pruning Apple Trees 

Pruning apple trees has many benefits. It can prevent damaged tree limbs from harming other branches and increase airflow between branches, reducing potential fungal diseases, says Eric North, program manager of urban forestry and ISA certified arborist at Arbor Day Foundation.

Over time, apple trees can grow too densely. The occasional pruning will help remove excess branches and leaf cover that shade the apples. Too much shade and many apples won’t ripen fully, or the fruit tree will fail to produce fruit. "Trees are somewhat short-sighted, often producing more apples than they can handle—resulting in an overload of smaller fruit and hindering next year’s crop."

When to Prune Apple Trees 

The best time to prune an apple tree is during late winter or early spring after the fruit has been harvested. Apple trees are susceptible to many diseases, and because pruning involves leaving open wounds from branch cuts, it's best to do so when the trees are dormant, says Ferguson. Waiting until winter or early spring can reduce the chances of disease spreading to the apple tree and ensure the wounds heal before the warm summer months. 

You should also wait to prune apple trees until they've had time to establish. “If you have a newly planted apple tree, you can wait a season or two for the tree to grow before you start pruning,” says North. Once the tree has been growing for a few seasons, you can begin pruning. Younger trees tend to grow quicker than old ones, which means they are more likely to need more frequent pruning.

When Not to Prune Apple Trees

There are several reasons not to prune an apple tree. One is if the tree is very young, especially if it's grown from seed, as it won't have a well-established root system. The second reason is if the apple tree has a disease, like fire blight. If your tree has this problem, consult a professional certified arborist to help diagnose the disease and recommend treatment. “Pruning a diseased tree can increase the disease problems and potentially spread the disease to other trees you might be pruning,” North says. Also, consider hiring a professional certified arborist if the tree has gotten large enough to require chainsaws or ladders. A professional will know the safest methods to prune your tree.

How to Prune Apple Trees

When pruning an apple tree, make sure you have the right tools—like hand pruners, a hand saw, and a step ladder. Then follow these tips from experts to properly prune your tree. 

Make a Plan 

Before you start pruning, make a plan. “You should know what you want the finished pruned tree to look like before you start,” says North. For example, if you want certain branches to hang closer to the ground, making the apples easier to pick, be sure to have that in your plan, he says.

Also consider the quality of last year's crop when making your plan. “Are there any areas of the tree that produced either too many small apples or too many apples that stayed green?” asks Ferguson. If so, that’s a good indicator that there may be a large branch or two that can be removed, which will help support the overall quality of the apple harvest.

Remove Excess Leader Branches 

Next, identify your tree’s “leader” branch. This branch grows straight up. “It is usually the very top end of the main trunk itself,” says Ferguson. If your goal is to let your tree grow taller, especially in the first five years or so, remove competition for this leader branch. “That way, the tree can concentrate its energy on growing the leader upward.” If there are multiple leader branches, you can remove them, being careful to leave the one you want intact.

Remove Broken or Crossing Branches

Determine which branches are broken, crossing, or growing vertically and cut them off. Make your cut on each branch around 3 to 4 inches away from the main trunk or main branch. You don’t want the cut to be too close to the main trunk or main branch because this could harm the tree’s body and expose it to possible invasions by insects or diseases.

Trim Too Long Branches 

Next, identify longer branches you want to make shorter (but don’t want to eliminate from the tree entirely). You can shorten these branches by making a slanted cut perpendicular to the nearest fruit spur, where you want the tree branch to end. Cut right above the spur or bud, about a 1/4-inch away from it. This way, the branch and its fruit can continue growing for next year’s harvest.