Getting control of an apple tree

I've got a 25 yr old (give or take) apple tree, cooking type (I'm guessing Bramley seedling to look at them but it is a guess), which was in my garden when I moved in last November.

It's absolutely huge, which is fine by me (huge garden), but I'm basically clueless about these things and it's gone a bit wild! It's fruiting nicely, good apples but I need to know how to go about properly pruning it.

So far I've taken a large dead branch off the back; most of the growth is going forwards, because the last occupiers have planted a huge privet that's also gone wild and has been blocking light from what would have been the back third of the tree. Cleared that away now though, and in time the whole hedge will be gone so the tree will get full light. I've just been up in it lopping some branches off the top - there is top growth that's about 6 feet long going straight up, it looks rediculous and I figure it couldn't hurt to thin the apples a bit as I'm going to have a shop's worth whatever I do! I am going to take off another thick branch soon, it's at ground level though. Very difficult to mow around!

So, does anyone have any advice how to a) get it back under control and b) cultivate it in future to get the best results? Not that it isn't doing well already, I just don't want to spoil it.

 

I'm a long way from being an expert Nikita, but I think to get maximum growth apple trees need light, air and moisture - so thinning it out sounds a good idea. I did read somewhere that the best shape for an apple tree is to make it a bit like a wine glass, so basically remove the side shoots from the main branches. But I think you don't have to worry too much about spoiling it, unless you're planning on doing your pruning with a chainsaw I think it's difficult to do much damage.

But if anyone else contradicts this advice listen to them and not me!

 

Hi Nikita, if it`s a 25 year old Bramley, then I would assume that it is huge and it needs to be pruned over the space of 3 years. For this year just take out those branches which interfere with others, also take out the one growing at ground level, take out any dead or weak growth. You`ve already taken down some of the top growth and that is fine. You need to have a bit of patience because if you cut it back all in one go it will just produce twice as much growth next year at the expense of fruit. I would also wait until you`ve harvested the fruit before doing any more to it. David.

 

Thanks David, that's brilliant. Patience isn't an issue, I've got half a dozen other (large) garden projects going on so plenty to keep me busy

Huge is right, it's probably 20ft tall with the top growth on it and the same wide. I'll be harvesting the fruit soon, I've done a tester pie today and it's lovely so time to get on with the sauce...

 

Nikita, if you need any more advice with these other big projects you know wwere to come. David.