tree's

i've been reading alot about tree's. and pruning them.

apple tree's.

it's best to prune apple tree's during the early spring. you can prune them a lot without causing lasting damage. if you are pruning your tree more than a third, you should wait for he next year, or spread your pruning out throughout several years. but is very difficult to kill a tree.

things you need to take off, and can anytime: dead. anything dead, suckers. suckers are any branch that is going straight up. mostly it is at the base of the tree. it's very often NOT apple tree that is growing at the base, since apple tree roots are stuck with a more hardy rootstock. it's probably usually poplar. if your tree dies, and you let a sucker grow, it won't be apple tree. but it will grow into a tree that maybe beautiful...
it's better to let the tree seal its self.

other things to prune, but is best in the winter or early spring:
1. any branches that are growing down.
2. any branches that are dying
3. any branches that are rubbing against other branches.
4. one of the two that are competing for the peak
5. any branches that are growing Inboard.
6. any branches that have a bug living in them, which may prevent the bug from reaching the base of the tree, eg. if the branch is hollow, but the tree is not.

there are a couple of different reasons to prune an apple tree.
1. thin it out. it's best for apple production to have airflow, the less apples growing on the tree (proportional to it's size) the bigger the apples will grow. (so if there are too many growing, and you would rather not cut the limb, thin out the apples as they come in)
2. train the tree. sometimes based on the location of the tree, it is best to train it to grow away from an object. it may make the apples easier to pick if you keep it low, or in a shape. also, shaping the tree to a pleasant look.
3. safety. if it will grow into a power line, or if it already has grown into a powerline. (for example)
it's not a good idea to top the tree, since it will encourage suckers to grow at the top of the tree, it is a bad idea however, if it's to prevent growth. it will stimulate the tree's growth, if you don't mind trimming suckers later.

if a deer or something eats the bark off the tree, it is dead. there needs to be a link of bark from the bottom, to each branch at LEAST, since water and nutrients are passed immediately underneath the bark. if your tree dies because of this, letting a sucker grow, will not solve the problem, as it will most likely NOT be a fruit bearing tree.