How to prune apple trees

Apple trees need regular pruning to stay healthy and produce lots of fruit. Whether you grow your apple tree as a standard, or train it against a wall as a cordon, espalier or fan, correct pruning is vital to success. Here, horticultural expert Mandy Bradshaw explains exactly how and when to prune your apple trees.

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When to prune apple trees

Apple 'Cox's Orange Pippin' has an aromatic flavour and crisp, juicy texture
Image: Visions BV, Netherlands

Standard apple trees are mainly pruned in winter, between November and early March when the plant is dormant. Winter pruning stimulates root growth.

Trained apple trees should be pruned in summer, with just a tidy up during winter if required. Mid- to late-August is ideal. 

Most apple trees produce fruit on spurs – short shoots that sprout on older wood. However, a few varieties, known as tip-bearers, fruit at the end of long shoots that were produced the year before. Identify which type of apple tree you have to avoid accidentally removing all the shoots that will produce next year’s crop.

How to prune standard apple trees

Aim for an open goblet shape that allows plenty of sunlight to reach and ripen the fruit
Image: Apple 'Appletini' from Thompson & Morgan

To prune your apple tree you’ll need a good set of steps, a pruning saw and sharp secateurs. It’s important to make clean cuts that will reduce the risk of introducing disease.

For standard apple trees you should aim to create an open, goblet shape that allows the maximum amount of light down into the tree and good air circulation.

1. Start by removing dead, diseased or weak growth and any branches that are crossing.
2. On spur-bearing trees, reduce the length of main branches by about a third. 
3. Cut to a good, outward-facing bud, making a slanted cut down and away from the bud to prevent rain pooling on it. 
4. Keep checking the tree’s overall shape before you make any more cuts.
5. Side shoots, known as laterals, should be left over winter to produce fruit buds.
6. Do remove any growth that is heading towards the centre of the tree, reducing air and light.
7. On well established trees, thin out any congested fruit spurs. Start with those on the underside of branches as fruit there will struggle to ripen. Shorten others to leave the strongest, allowing space for developing fruit.
8. On tip-bearing trees, stop branches getting too long by cutting back some of the older stems to a younger shoot.

How to prune trained apple trees

Remove any unwanted vertical growth in summer
Image: Andrew Fletcher/Shutterstock

Apples grown as cordon, espalier or fans should be pruned from mid-August. The aim is to maintain the desired shape and allow as much sun as possible to ripen the fruit. However, once the trees are mature, you may need to thin any congested spurs over the winter.

1. Cut back new shoots more than 20cm long to three leaves above the basal leaves.
2. Reduce any new shoots from existing side shoots to one leaf above the basal leaves.
3. Remove any growth that is spoiling the shape, particularly vertical growth, cutting it close to the parent branch.
4. If you get more growth after summer pruning, remove it in September.

We hope we’ve given you plenty of tips to help you prune your apples trees and enjoy many years of delicious fruit. For more guidance and expert advice on growing fruit trees, check out our dedicated hub page.