how old is my apple tree, pruning now?

Good morning,

I'm new to this forum and want to introduce myself, I live in London, am a new garden owner and stumbled across this great forum looking for tips and tricks!

And here's my first question: this May I got an apple tree (Cox Orange, M9) as a moving-in present from a friend of mine, you can see it on the first image (no that's not me that's my friend

At that time I thought the tree was in it's second year, the branches coming from the trunk were about 3 feet long and I thought those branches have grown this year.

Now the tree is forming side branches at the tips of the main branches (as you can see in the second image) and it occurred to me that the tree might be in it's 3rd year, hasn't been pruned this winter and I should have done that when I got it.

I attached a close up of the joints where the new shoots emerge and a very simple diagram of the tree with the new shoot in RED.

Here're my questions:

- do you think as well that the tree is in it's third year?
- can I still prune it at this time of the year?
- it seems to form 2 main branches, how would you prune?


Is it too late to prune it now, shall I do it this winter or is it best to hurry and do it now before the tree invests all it's energy in the new branches that I need to cut of anyway sooner or later?

Thanks for your help!



Cheers
Holger

 

No, no one who can help me? :(

 

Hi Holgerp,
I know practically nothing about pruning apple trees, but I found these diagrams which merely give you an indication of how the tree has to be pruned in year 1, 2 and 3 to get a particular shape (shape 2 being suitable for pots and shape 3 for trees against a wall).
But for the matters concerning production is all a different story and it looks very complicated...
Anyway no no no pruning now, when the tree is in the best of vitality. I think it is better to wait january...

http://www.giardinaggio.it/frutteto/melo/allevamentomelo.asp

 

I would say it`s a 3 year old maiden. It doesn`t need pruning yet, leave it alone. More importantly, what is the variety, as most apples need a pollinator to produce fruit.