How to prune apple trees in July and August?

Apple planting is a complex agricultural work that requires different management in different seasons. July and August are the periods of vigorous growth, and the branches grow rapidly, so pruning must be done well. So how do you prune apple trees in July and August? Let’s learn more about it below.

1. Clean the tree trunk

Proper branch pruning should be carried out to maintain ventilation and light transmission of the crown. Shaping and pruning of apple trees is very important. Appropriately cut off the overgrown shoots and crowded branches in the trunk, and remove the dense branches that affect coloring. Especially pruning before bagging provides good favorable conditions for the later fruit coloring.

2. Pull branches to slow down the trend

Pulling branches is an effective measure to moderate tree vigor and promote the formation of flower buds. During this period, it is appropriate to pull up the branches and cap the early and mature fruit trees in time to help moderate the tree vigor. In August, as the branch pulling angle increases, the top is slowed down, and the dominant position moves backward, the branches quickly enter a dormant period. A large amount of leaf photosynthetic carbon nutrients flow back to the branches and buds, promoting branch lignification and bud quality, which is beneficial to the safe wintering of fruit trees.

3. Thinning branches to increase brightness

It is necessary to do a good job of cleaning the fruit tree trunk, cut off the overgrown branches in the tree trunk and the overgrown branches at the saw cut, remove or retract the branches that affect the ventilation and light transmission of the tree, and also remove the ineffective branches that are too dense in the middle and lower parts of the crown. Remove excessive competing branches, sprouting branches, upright branches, multiple branches, diseased and insect-infested branches, as well as overly dense moderate and auxiliary branches, to create good ventilation and light conditions.

4. Sparse, strong, prosperous and retained

If there are too many fruit-bearing branches or they are growing too vigorously (2 or more), thin out one and leave one, or thin out the strong and vigorous ones and leave them alone. In autumn, trees that are beginning to bear fruit can be pruned with "live caps" to promote flowering and moderate the tree's vigor.

5. Diseased and insect-infested branches

The main diseases and pests in summer and autumn include brown spot disease, spotted leaf fall disease, red spider mites, leaf rollers, leaf miners, and apple aphids. If they are not properly prevented and controlled, large-scale leaf fall will occur, seriously weakening the tree vigor and often causing considerable losses. Prune away diseased and insect-infested branches and dead branches to prevent the spread of diseases and pests and affect fruit development.

6. Notes

Pay attention to the time of pruning and avoid pruning during high temperature periods to avoid damaging the fruit trees.

That’s it