Structural Pruning a Young Apple Tree

In this video we will discuss the 8 steps to structural pruning young fruit trees to make sure you set up a good structure for long term healthy fruit production. These eight steps will ensure that your fruit trees don't fail under heavy fruit loads.

[@Jewclaw]

This is a great video! I’ve been watching a lot of pruning videos for non fruit trees but I learned more from this video than I did in in the hours of videos I watched

[@fruitpruningchannel]

I'm so glad you found it helpful!

[@WeekendOverland]

Very good video. Thanks.

[@fruitpruningchannel]

Thanks! I'm glad it was helpful.

[@spoolsandbobbins]

Keep’em coming! Gorgeous view you have!!

[@fruitpruningchannel]

Yeah, this orchard is in a really nice place it's not mine, but I do the pruning every year.

[@nerinat8371]

Very informative, thank you

[@fruitpruningchannel]

Thanks for watching!

[@HpolleH]

Great video! I do have a question, why are you cutting the "main" brench at 6:52 am I supposed to do that every year? Also what age would you guess this tree is?

[@fruitpruningchannel]

If you want an open center or a modified leader you will remove the leader once. As soon as that step is completed you'll never have to do it again. Unless you change from a modified leader to an open center.

[@grazvydasj6956]

Secateurs - teh blade should be facing downwards (towards the stem), otherwise the branch collar gets crushed...

[@fruitpruningchannel]

@@grazvydasj6956 thanks for the tip!

[@SteveHarvey-x4q]

Thanks

[@fruitpruningchannel]

Glad to help!

[@fyrehawkSix]

Do you train a tree to grow upright? This tree is leaning a bit. I have a couple trees and want them to grow straight up not lean. Thoughts?

[@fruitpruningchannel]

Make sure you plant your tree upright and stake it for one growing season. Sometimes in windy areas trees will develop a lean, in which case you will need to try to adjust the canopy every year with pruning. I don't recommend pulling on trees to straighten them. There is a video in this channel that talks about balancing the canopy even if the trunk is leaning. The title is "step eight: balancing the canopy."

[@fyrehawkSix]

@@fruitpruningchannel The one tree I'm worried about is a pear tree that was planted last summer. I think I may stake that one but the other one is about 4 years old. It seems that the roots on this older tree are very shallow and I can actually rock the tree back and forth as if the roots are only on the surface. It was straight last season but has started leaning. I'll do more research but I thank you for the tip. I'll stake any new trees for the first year.

[@curtcmiller]

It looks like you are training the trees to be taller than you can reach from the ground.

[@fruitpruningchannel]

I can reach all of the trees from the ground. Check out this demonstration in the same orchard. ruclips.net/video/wUI-QIbyGqk/видео.htmlsi=YkoeTzQIKc7Dy0EG

[@premtanwar8298]

Dead wood in lateral branches is result of deep thinning cut.

[@fruitpruningchannel]

Thanks!

[@MultiEldridge]

Sounds like a silly question, but... how old is a "young" tree?

[@fruitpruningchannel]

I would say that once a tree has a permanently established structure it transitions from young to mature.

[@waylonlegend4603]

2 years on average

[@gheorghevlasceanu3866]

Hello 🇷🇴

[@fruitpruningchannel]

Thanks for watching!

[@heatheroliver342]

My 11 year old just said “are you trying to get followers or make people throw up?! Stop going in circles!” She gets quite motion sick easily 😂

[@fruitpruningchannel]

Interesting

[@robertkeller5930]

Rabbits would have killed mine without protection.

[@fruitpruningchannel]

Rabbits, field mice, and deer all enjoy eating fruit tree bark.

[@SteveHarvey-x4q]

Thanks

[@fruitpruningchannel]

Glad to help!

[@tiggermedia]

thanks

[@fruitpruningchannel]

Glad to help.