Leaves are still falling off my 2 new trees they were planted this year in march for my for my grand children they were always asking for something that they could look after. With me now being retired :happy7: and tired :toothy10: and not looking for any hard graft when can I start to prune them and how much do you cut back cheers :coffee2:
I haven't started any of mine yet as I wait until every leaf is off so I can see what I'm doing..
Then it depends on what shape you want your tree to be. Mine are all trained trees and I try to do most of the pruning in the summer. But if you've bought standards or half standards just nip off anything that has been spoilt or damaged and leave them at that. Check the stakes aren't rubbing the bark etc. If your aiming for a trained tree such as espalier or cordon then its probably worth opening a simple pruning book or someone more able and knowledgeable than me can give you a link to a gardening site with all the gen. Don't cut off too much as it makes the trees spurt into extra [unproductive] growth. :wave:
I am assuming it is miniature form of tree e.g.a'minarette' and if it is,these should be pruned around August/September and the leaves are needed as a guide.
Week 32; Prune apple trees grown as cordons or espaliers.
Cut back all the mature laterals of the current year's growth to three leaves above the basal cluster, and back to one leaf where new growth is on an existing sideshoot or spur.
Established full or half-standard apple trees that have shown a reluctance to flower can sometimes be encouraged to crop by lightly pruning laterals now.
Cut back to a convenient bud about 150mm (6") from the base of the shoot.
So now that the leaves have dropped, you have nothing to guide you but you may still be able to tell what is new growth.
Basal growth referred to above usually forms about three or four inches above the point where the new growth emerges from the branch.
Perhaps the best option now is to cut back new growth by half.
Subject to the length of the new growth you might end up with extensive new growth next year, meaning you will have more pruning to do next year to thin out fruiting branches.
There are some pictures and data here that might help;
http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Apple/Apples.htm (http:// http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Apple/Apples.htm)