Many gardeners argue about when it is better to prune apple trees in spring or autumn. Practice shows that in relation to seed-type trees, pruning will be useful and expedient in both spring and autumn.
In our article, we will consider in detail the procedure for pruning apple trees in the fall: we will learn all about the timing, goals and methods of this event, reveal all the details and analyze all the mistakes made during this procedure.
- Why do I need autumn pruning of apple trees
- Optimum time for autumn pruning
- Set of garden tools for work
- Apple tree pruning scheme depending on age
- Young trees
- Fruiting apple trees
- Old apple trees
- Post-trimming activities
Why do I need autumn pruning of apple trees
First of all, trimming - This is a process aimed at creating a beautiful, correct form of the crown of the tree, as well as at increasing the indicators of its yield. Proper removal of old dry branches stimulates the growth of new and healthy, rejuvenates the plant and reduces the risk of hollowing and rotting. 
The thinned crown is well and evenly illuminated and warmed by the sun,what allows fruits to grow and ripen at the same time and evenly. Such a crown also makes it easier for gardeners to harvest and care for the tree itself. Autumn pruning, among other things, prepares trees for comfortable wintering.
Optimum time for autumn pruning
Pruning apple trees in the fall should fall under certain deadlines. The best time for this - the period from the moment all the leaves fell, before the first frost hit. During this period, the tree is in a calm, "sleepy" state, and pruning will not cause it stress.
Usually, autumn pruning is carried out in one of the warm sunny days of November.
Set of garden tools for work
In order to cut off all the excess from the crown of an apple tree, you will need the following:
- gardening scissors;
- pruner;
- garden knife;
- hacksaw or saw.
With scissors and shears, it will be easy for you to cut thin twigs, and you will need a saw or handsaw to remove thick branches.Apple tree pruning scheme depending on age
Pruning trees of every age has its own reasons and subtleties. Therefore, when determining the scheme, you need to consider how old your apple tree is. 
Young trees
Formation of the crown of the future adult tree occurs mainly during the first pruning, after planting the seedling. Therefore, when pruning young apples in the fall, the scheme is quite simple, most often it is called "weak".
Strongly grown and ugly protruding branches are cut into a quarter, giving the apple-tree a symmetrical, neat shape. If “competitors” have formed at the central branch, they should be removed - the trunk should be one. If the crown of a young tree is too elongated, the top should be shortened to stop growing the apple tree far up - this will complicate the process of leaving and harvesting an adult tree. You can also hang the weights to the lower branches, directed sharply upwards, so that they take a horizontal position, and if necessary, it was easier for you to reach them.
Fruiting apple trees
For fruit trees, pruning has mainly character thinning. If you see that the crown is too thick, it prevents proper lighting and ventilation of all its branches, it will be necessary to thin it out for the winter so that these problems do not happen next season.
Removed branches growing deep in the crown, dry, as well as those that take up a lot of space, closing the rest. The main thing is to open the access of heat and light to the center. Again, if the tree has grown too high upwards - its top needs to be shortened and to direct growth in width. 
The main rule for circumcision - This is to remove the branches "under the ring", that is, without leaving stumps and torn sections, to prevent rotting. And always remember that it is worth starting with pruning with large unnecessary branches, and then it will be better seen if you need pruning of small ones. A tree will more easily and quickly suffer one big loss than many small ones.
Old apple trees
The scheme for pruning old apple trees in the fall mainly comes down to their rejuvenation. With age, the apple tree loses the level of yield, its branches grow old, dry and do not produce fruit. To fix this and prolong the life and fruiting of the tree as long as possible, all the dry, sick, old branches are cut or sawed. The slices heal quickly and a new life forms in their place.
Strongly overgrown tree, we also thin out and adjust the shape of the crown. All small branches growing at an acute angle are also subject to removal. Of the two closely growing branches, cut off the one that looks weaker.
Post-trimming activities
After you have adjusted the shape of the crown, freed the tree from the dry and diseased branches, rejuvenated and thinned your apple tree, it is time to process the cuts.Usually for this use garden pitch. This is an effective tool that blocks the open "wound", not allowing the tree to lose vital juices through it. 
Var is usually a solution of lime, with the addition of copper sulphate, in the ratio of 10 to 1. If the frost is near, keep in mind that the var can freeze from the surface of the wood after freezing. During such a period, it is better to use oil paint as a tool for treating cuts.
Also remember that the places where you cut off old and dry shoots should be processed immediately, while those where green branches grew and the wound turned out to be “wet”, it is better to dry them for a day before processing.
That's all you need to know about pruning apple trees in the fall in order to carry out this procedure correctly - do no harm to the tree and increase the amount of its harvest for the next season. As you see, there is nothing complicated here, the main thing is to follow simple rules, and your apple trees will delight you with their health and tasty apples for many years to come.
