Help with pruning old apple tree

[pot shadley]

This is my first post so be gentle!!

We have an old apple tree in our garden which has had very little pruning. We have been at this property for 15 years, but the tree was planted well before that. Attached is a photo of the tree.

AS you can see it is well out of balance and now has a broken branch, which I have decided to leave until the apples are done! This snapped in the recent storms.

Could someone let me know the best way (and time)to prune the tree so that i can get it back looking good, and don't kill it!! The apples taste really good and noting like you get from the super markets. I have no idea of the variety.

Any help with this would be appreciated.

[FB.]

Many fine old apple trees have been killed by their owners not pruning the correct way or the correct time.

Don't prune an old tree until it is dormant for the winter.
Don't prune off more than one-third of its mass in any one winter. In the first winter start by removing dead, diseased and crossing/rubbing branches.
Unfortunately, many years of neglect may take several years to undo - and with little or no crop in those years.

When the tree is dormant (usually December-February), take a selection of pictures from different angles and post them for people to see what might be able to be done with it.

However, with all the lower branches having been trimmed off, the tree is probably now stuck with a high-up canopy.

[pot shadley]

Thank you for the information. I'll leave things for the time being and give it a go in the winter.

[pot shadley]

A quick update to this. I have pruned a few branches. Mainly the dead and diseased, although I did have a broken ones due to the gails. It doesn't look too bad now so i;ve left it to see how things work out this year.