Pruning Apple Trees

I was always told to prune apple trees right after harvesting the fruits, but recently another gardner told me it's ok to prune them now. So is he correct and can I prune my apple trees in the middle of winter?

 

Plums and pears after fruiting to avoid silver leaf. Apples always mid to late winter.

 

Thanx PG, seems I've been doing it wrong all these years. I pruned back very hard last winter and we had a bumper crop of apples so I'll do the same again this year. We have 1 pear tree that never fruits very well, well most years it doesn't fruit, probably because I'm pruning it too late?

 

Does this include crab apples?

 

I am about to prune my new bare root trees back to the third bud on each branch-well more twig at the moment they are only babys. I haven`t ever had to prune a crab apple Granny but yes I would say so.

 

Thank you Lolli. Ijust wondered if it would keep it healthy really. It's laden with fruit every year

 

The birds must be very fat and happy near you then Granny.

 

My guide to apple pruning was from here.

Good luck

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_september_2d_apple.asp

 

We have lots of crabs (apples that is). Prune them exactly as for spur fruiting apples if they need shaping. Otherwise leave them alone.