If youre just planting fruit trees for the first time, you might want to look at the Learn to Grow. If you look at the tree from the top, it should look like a star. If two scaffold branches are too close to one another, remove one. Your apple tree should have 2-6 primary scaffold branches (depending on the size of the tree) which connect to the central lead branch and are evenly spaced around it. Each year, pruning and training is needed to produce high quality fruit and maintain tree health. Step 3: Prune Non-Primary Scaffold Branches. Side branches need to have wide angles of attachment to the trunk to be strong.

Apple and pear trees are usually pruned to a central leader (main trunk) and scaffold (side) branches (Figure 1).

The Westmorland Damson Association was formed in April 1996 by a group of local people who wished to preserve the damson orchards in the old County of Westmorland, especially in and around the Lyth Valley.Įvery April, they run the 'Damson Day' in the Lyth valley. Download a pdf on Pruning Apples to central leader form. To help control crop load and maintain fruit. Your apple tree should have one central leading branch which grows vertically from the trunk. Featured resource Westmorland Damson Association

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