Pruning Apple Trees
So now it’s time to think about summer pruning apple trees. Mine are grown as ordinary bush trees; in other words a branched head on a stem of less than 1 metre (3 feet) in height. In late summer, or early autumn, I cut back the strong vigorous shoots that have developed over the summer months to around three leaves from last season’s growth. Over the years this builds up the fruiting spurs which blossom and produce next years fruits. Most text books will tell you to prune now, and to prune again in winter when the leaves have fallen. This is the ideal situation, if you have time. Personally I do most of my pruning now, and then I give the trees a quick once over in winter if I get around to it.
Summer pruning apple trees should not be done too early; it can result in a late flush of weak shoots if the autumn is long and warm. Of course the other benefit of summer pruning apple trees is that it clears away some of the foliage from the ripening fruit, allowing the sun to get to the apples and develop the natural sugars.
Summer pruning wisteria is similar to summer pruning apple trees:the objective is to shorten back the new shoots, and encourage flower bud development on woody spurs.
Pruning Wisteria
Pruning Shrubs
While I had the secateurs out I decided that I had to reduce the width of a large choisya growing along the pathway. This has now spread beyond its boundaries, so a little summer pruning was essential. Rather than cutting back the tips of the shots all over the shrub I like to be selective, and maintain the natural habit of the plant. I cut back some of the longest stems right back into the heart of the plant to allow new shoots to develop from inside the shrub. This should help to promote a nice, bushy plant of reduced proportions.