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Summer Prune Apple Tree

Hello, I live in York and wonder if it's too late to summer prune my apple tree (sorry I don't know the type but it's a small, eating apple and the apples don't store for long because they go fluffy/powdery, if that helps). Most websites seem to suggest mid-August is the latest but will the 3 weeks make much difference? The tree has a lot of apples on it, which are almost ripe. I wanted to summer prune to limit its growth a bit. Thanks for your help, CLK

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  • clkclk Posts: 95

    Thank you ever so much waterbutts, that's more helpful than I even expected. The answers are as you anticipated so I'll leave now and lightly prune as you described in winter. However, I'm now curious to know why it's too late to summer prune now? Thank you, CLK

  • If you prune it now clk, it will sprout fresh growth which won't have time to develop fully before it gets frosted.  If that happens disease can develop from the damaged new growth.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • clkclk Posts: 95

    Thank you BobTheGardener. Is the new growth, before it fully develops, what they call semi-ripe?

  • clkclk Posts: 95

    So, waterbutts, does that mean that if you summer prune an apple tree, by the time the frosts come the growth will be semi ripe? (And possibly is the newest summer growth what's referred to as soft wood?). Thank you.

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