Apple Problem

[Florence Fennel]

This year there are hundreds of apples on my 15+year old apple tree, but almost all of them have matured as small or tiny what can I do to prevent this next year? Anything? I have started pruning it already but I really don't know what I'm doing

[Bigmallly]

Next year, thin them out Flo so you get less but larger fruit. So out of every 6 Apples, leave 2 or 3 to mature.

[Florence Fennel]

Thanks Mally :} I thought I'd done that last year, but then I remembered I wasn't too well at the time and let my son do it!

[FB.]

Which variety?
Which rootstock?
What shape? (tree/bush/espalier/cordon/other?)
What kind of soil is it in?
Are there nearby plants, including grass, or a big tree?
Has the weather been unusually sunny/dry/warm/cool/dull etc?

[veggiechicken]

There was very little June drop on the trees here. However the trees are laden with apples - maybe the best year ever.

[Florence Fennel]

I only know it's eating apples FB! This is the first year there's been a problem. It's now a big tree in a small space only soil around it no grass

[FB.]

Here, July and August have seen a prolonged warm dry spell so water is in short supply.

Some varieties tend to produce small fruit as the tree ages, made worse by biennial bearing.

The common MM106 rootstock doesn't cope well with hot dry summers, especially on light soil.

[Florence Fennel]

If I trim it really hard do you think that would help?

[FB.]

If I trim it really hard do you think that would help?

Hard pruning mature trees usually leads to problems - sometimes death of the tree.