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Posted by Polyantha (U14457195) on Friday, 18th June 2010
I have an apple tree that is about 5 years old, I bought it in a Daily Mail offer, supposed to be a dwarf apple tree, I have no idea if it is self pollinating, but I seem to think it was. I planted it in the border and it is very healthy, unfortunatly it has developed 2 main leaders, lots of side branches too, which are quite long, the main leader is about 8 ft tall and growing, it has never produced any apples, this year after feeding it with sulphate of potash it produced 2 flowers, which died and fell off after flowering, no apples in sight. I really need to prune it, when and how do I do it?, I don't want it to grow any taller really it has lots of new green stems at the ends of the old wood, I am at a loss what to do with it, I don't know what variety it is , red eating apple I think. Any help appreciated
It may be that the tree is not so dwarf as expected. More vigorous trees take longer to start fruiting because the vigorous sap flow promotes foliage rather than fruit.
Nearly all methods of encouraging fruiting involve reducing the vigour and the sap flow in some way. The simplest is summer pruning. Tying down branches to angle them more horizontally, can help. Ring barking is very effective - read about it before you do it. I once ring-barked a Golden Delicious accidentally with the strimmer, but it has fruited prolifically ever since. If you feel energetic, you can root prune.
Some of the very old gardening books are very good on these techniques because in the old days rootstocks were less predictable.
There is also lots of info on the internet.
Thanks, I will look up ring barking on the internet, might be just what it needs, I am so tempted to just chop off the top growth and chop off some of the side branches lengths, got a tree surgeon coming next week, might have a word with him.
My apple tree has some leaves that are shrivelling up. I have sprayed them with general garden spray that kills ahids, black, white fies etc. Do I need to spray something else? I have some fruit on this young tree, will it be safe to spray it a few times?
Thanks for your help.
Mamta
I have just posted a similar problem to yours Mamta, hopefully someone out there will help us!!!!
I hope so 711sammie
I have just posted a similar problem to yours Mamta, hopefully someone out there will help us!!!!
That is wierd, how did your message attach itself to mine!
Your Apple Tree will grow back so dont worry, best thing is to adds small weights to the branchs to weight them down slightly as it will give it more buds and more apples will sprout from it and they will be bigger, very tasty,
I sent a message soaked in super glue!!!!!
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