New apple tree pruning

Have just bought a ballyvaughan seedling apple tree is 7ft tall and splits in to 3 branches at about 4 and a half feet. Should I cut tree down to 3ft our just shorten top branches and accept trunk is going to be a bit taller?

 

Hi call me daft but if you wanted a smaller tree why dint you buy a smaller tree to start with ..

we would need a photo to give you better advice on pruning if me I would plant and wait and see what happens in the spring then do a summer prune if needed (on the new growth)

I just looked it up its a cider / cooking apple variety

Spruce

 

Some apple trees are like roses where the fruiting parts are grafted onto a strong rootstock. My apple tree has three different varieties grafted onto a non-fruiting rootstock. If you cut to below the graft you won't get any fruit.

 

All of the trees they had in this variety were all the same size would guess the tree is 1-2years old , so yeah prob would have went smaller if I could but took it as this variety is hard to get hold off I went for it , I have attached a picture , the string round it is stop the cat scrabing till I gut a proper guard.

 

Hi the graft is at the very bottom of the tree it's just getting its first prune done as on books it's says cut to 3ft to incourage branches to start but my new trees already had branches over 4ft up , and the tree is only 1-2years old

 

I wouldn't cut that down to 3 feet.
It looks like the beginning of a standard.
You shouldn't expect fruit next year so I would prune the two longest shoots back by a third.
Bearing in mind winter pruning is about shaping and stimulating growth.
Summer pruning is more about encouraging fruit spurs.

 

Thanks looking at the tree just didn't feel right cutting so low , a big tree it is then lol trust me to pick a variety that is not a wipe our feartherd just branched 4 foot up lol

 

Do you know what root stock it is on?

They usually start with an M. Followed by a number.

 

Hi with a cooker the apples are normally bigger and heavier so you need a robust tree to tackle the weight , as Pete said whats the rootstock as they will give you a idea how large it will grow and how vigorous .. if you dont know ask where you bought it from

it will need to be staked properly as well ... a lot of people pay a lot for a tree but reluctant to spend on a strong stake and a tie as the early years are well worth taking the time over ..

 

Don't know the rootstock but from Googling this varity seems to be always sold as mm106 rootstock , will also call the supplier when I get a chance and ask

 

The stakes I have in are in very deep our would you suggest different type of staking , so to be more robust would that mean pruning it lower our keeping it at its hieght see what happens and keep well staked

 

It's mm106 just confirmed it with supplier

 

Um....they do need formative pruning/shaping, Loofah.

 

So not massive but not small either.

I'm sure Spruce is getting to it but about staking, modern methods are a stake at 45 degrees with a tie.
The stake needs to be on the side of the prevailing winds.
The top of the tree should be allowed to move in the wind without the roots rocking around.

It does look a bit exposed where you are.