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Hello, I normally winter prune in mid March
(spring break). There are a couple of standard trees (circa 1918) and I
let my teenage sons climb/prune those, and school spring break is the perfect
time for that. (I value my old bones. Ha, ha) This particular Northern Spy is a root
seedling that came up about 15’ away from the standard sized mother tree
(planted circa 1918) which is now dead and gone 10 years. During the
04-05 winter a mouse girdled the young tree, leaving only three, one inch
strips of intact bark. It has recovered admirably but puts on a slew of
water sprouts each season, some as big as your thumb at the base. I imagine this tree has access to the
old trees root system and that must be very large. It would need huge
energy reserves to put up such large water sprouts. I did bring the top back by about 1/3rd
when we realized mice had girdled it. This was done through major limb
removal, not minor pruning. I am pruning to keep it low while also
keeping it out of way of tractors, combines and implements that pass by it. It
is a standard tree and I have to keep a leash on it. It is about 10-12’
tall now, bearing fruit, and I only encourage laterals at the top. Later, Tom From:
nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Stephen Sadler When do you prune? I see a lot in
many types of apple trees that are winter pruned; summer pruning seems to
decrease their numbers. ~ Stephen From:
nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Olenio Hello, Is Northern Spy known to have a lot of annual water
sprouts? I am amazed at the number of water sprouts and annual
growth rate of these on Northern Spy. Later, Tom |
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