Apple tree winter pruning

[new gardener 1052]

Good morning all,
In what months is winter pruning normally done?
Is it done at the start middle or end of winter.
What I've got is a couple of apples I'm having a go at training them as espalier
My understanding is you should reduce the new growth on the horizontal leaders by a 1/3 in winter to encourage vertical growth along the branches.

Any help / advice will be greatly appreciated
Steve.

[Lardman]

You can winter prune at any time when the tree is dormant - I usually do my final bits in Feb.

I don't reduce the horizontals at all unless they're really wimpy or they have reached the end of their allocated space (as most have now). The idea isn't for vertical growth from the horizontals - but fruiting spurs all along the horizontal arms, vegetative growth on the arms will just give you a fuzzy tree.

Martin & Fb.'s thread is the most complete/comprehensive one I've seen so far on espalier training.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...den_62141.html

[new gardener 1052]

Thank you for your reply lardman
I must add the trees are still young 3 years old and only planted into the ground in March this year. They were in pots.

They have not yet grown to the desired shape. I thought the idea of cutting back the horizontal leaders in winter is that when the tree comes out of dormancy all the dormant buds along the branch try to become the new leader sprouting new growth that gets pruned back to 2 buds during summer. That will in turn into fruiting Spurs.

I might be completely mistaken but that's what I thought. If someone can shed some more light on the matter and educate me further I would be greatly thankful.

Steve.

[Lardman]

Tipping them back will increase bud break further back but you're not after vegetative growth you're after fruit buds, once horizontal the branch should favour fruit bud development rather than a branch. If you get a branch you'll need to summer prune and that delays things a year to get a spur.

It's not an exact science and trees do like to please themselves - a lot will depend on rootstock, growing conditions, tree variety and precociousness.