Common Mistakes to Avoid When Pruning Apple Trees in Kalamazoo, MI

Planting apple trees can pay off each year when delicious fruit forms from those pretty buds. However, any apple tree pruning must take place before that first bloom if you’re going to ensure a successful growing season. 

Screaming Timber Arbor Care, Kalamazoo’s certified tree service specialist, is here to break down the correct way to prune apple trees. We also mention some common mistakes to avoid with apple trees.

apple tree pruning

How To Make Apple Trees Thrive

All fruit trees require careful landscaping measures as they go through their life cycles. As long as you follow arborist-approved techniques, you’ll enjoy vibrant, full apple trees that produce the perfect crop each year. 

Start by prioritizing the following measures for healthy apple trees:

  • Prune deadwood
  • Fertilize the soil before the first bloom emerges
  • Use approved pest and disease control tactics

Professional arborists can help with all of these tasks. While they’re doing the apple tree pruning, they can also recommend solutions for any sick or decaying trees they find.

Mistakes People Make When Pruning Apple Trees

Don’t risk damaging your yearly crop because of improper pruning – comb through these common apple tree pruning mistakes to avoid. 

Pruning Too Early 

Arborists recommend pruning apple trees during their dormant season. Branches are easier to access without any leaves. This timing won’t affect the active growing season, either. 

Wait until a few weeks before the first bloom to remove dead or infected branches. Pruning too early can injure the tree and make it more vulnerable to pests or diseases.

Using the Wrong Tools

There are several types of tools experts use when pruning apple trees, including:

  • Garden shears
  • Loppers
  • Chainsaws

Not using the right equipment can damage the tree. It also makes the job more difficult.

Cutting the Wrong Branch Section

Say you notice water sprouts or suckers on a branch. You should remove them for healthy apple trees, but do you cut the entire branch? Do you thin out the whole tree or only one section?

Mistakes can kill the tree. Trust tree experts to make these cuts for optimum tree health. 

Excessive Canopy Thinning

Rather than shaping, you want to focus on deadwood removal while pruning apple trees. Cutting away too much of the canopy hinders the tree’s recovery.

Arborists suggest the central leader technique, which preserves the tree’s health while shaping its canopy. It gives the tree a pyramid-like shape – a thinner top section and branches that grow wider down the trunk. 

The Benefits of Proper Apple Tree Pruning

When you properly prune your apple trees, you’ll notice the following changes:

  • Increased sunlight 
  • Fewer pests and diseases
  • Improved aesthetics

Why wait to reap these rewards? Prepare for each growing season by scheduling a pruning service that sets up your apple tree for success!

Receive Professional Tree Services in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Are you in Michigan? We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that one of the biggest apple tree pruning mistakes you can make is not hiring Screaming Timber Arbor Care for all your pruning needs. Contact us online or call (616) 820-5997!

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