How to Prune A Really Neglected Apple Tree

Description: #How to Prune A Really Neglected Apple Tree #pruning old apple trees
#Pruning old apple trees with a chain saw #Restoration pruning on old apples trees
A discussion and demonstration of how to approach pruning an older and neglected apple tree by: Gary L. Heilig, retired Horticulture Educator for Michigan State University Extension.
Lopper used:amzn.to/3cmt28p
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which helps with the costs associated with this channel.
Topics include:
Is it worth the effort
How to approach the job safely
Using a chain saw for the big cuts
Topping the tree
Thinning cuts etc.
Music credit: Antarctica by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: audionautix.com/

Пікірлер: 243

  • @paulespinoza974
    @paulespinoza9743 жыл бұрын

    I pruned an apple tree in NE Georgia and the rancher told me I had killed the tree. The following year, the daughter-in-law told me they had the largest, juiciest and sweetest apples they had ever seen.. Advice: Prune around the strength of the largest branches; reduce the smaller branches. The tree will know what branches it has to supply in order to get all its energy to the produce it’s going to yield. Give the tree a chance to show it’s true strength. Remember they’re smatter than you when it comes to their fruit.

  • @jdr9419

    @jdr9419

    Жыл бұрын

    What is the best time of year to trim a tree like that?

  • @paulespinoza974

    @paulespinoza974

    Жыл бұрын

    @@jdr9419 After the last frost and before you see flowers on ANY tree.

  • @aprox23

    @aprox23

    Жыл бұрын

    When's the best time to prune an apple tree

  • @maddierosemusic

    @maddierosemusic

    Жыл бұрын

    @@jdr9419 I've read when they go dormant - so I'm doing mine in January.

  • @dawnhock4545

    @dawnhock4545

    Ай бұрын

    What kind of tree treatment is good to get rid of any bad bugs or stuff like that

  • @zhengyangwu8289
    @zhengyangwu82893 жыл бұрын

    Great ending message. The American Republic is the great beacon of human freedom. Never ever let anyone takes it down.

  • @christinahills9127
    @christinahills912726 күн бұрын

    Thank you for a great video Gary. I'm self taught from books on how to develop structure from planting & have had to bring a few overgrown orchards into line, often wondering if I had it right. There wasn't a single cut that you did that I hadn't already chosen! Very encouraging 😊 And I fully support your stance!

  • @angrybees8122
    @angrybees8122 Жыл бұрын

    In my opinion that "ugly tree" looks absolutely stunning 😍

  • @JoshWeaverRC
    @JoshWeaverRC3 жыл бұрын

    5:52 I smiled when I saw my man had guts from seeing his shirt covered in chain saw debris and no branch remaining. Good job. BTW 550 days in Afghanistan for me back in my younger years. Airborne.

  • @christyj24

    @christyj24

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for your service!!❤️❤️

  • @Free_Falastin2024

    @Free_Falastin2024

    3 ай бұрын

    You did a great job contributing to the oppression of the world. Well done. I'm sure the Afghanis whose lives you destroyed for corporate greet appreciate your "service."

  • @kungfil9931
    @kungfil99313 жыл бұрын

    I love the end credits asking for remembrance!!!

  • @WmArthur

    @WmArthur

    3 жыл бұрын

    Me Too!

  • @terrim.602

    @terrim.602

    2 жыл бұрын

    So do I. ❤️

  • @americandodo

    @americandodo

    2 жыл бұрын

    I subscribed just because of it... Well... Plus the video was helpful 😁

  • @horticultureandhomes
    @horticultureandhomes28 күн бұрын

    Gary I enjoy your videos. Your words on freedoms and the republic hit home in this day and age. Thank you.!

  • @Gentleman8astard
    @Gentleman8astard4 ай бұрын

    Gary seems like a great guy. He is great at explaining things just as I understand them. Lots of info in a short time.

  • @cavalryscout8720
    @cavalryscout87204 ай бұрын

    I have two old apple trees in that kind of neglected shape.. Thanks for the informative video. I've got a lot of work ahead it seems.. (subscribed) Operation Desert Storm vet here.. scouts out..

  • @radharcanna
    @radharcanna Жыл бұрын

    A very good video. I’ve watched many others but yours is the first one to mention the attractiveness of the tree. That’s an important thing.

  • @janedoe6071
    @janedoe60714 ай бұрын

    My brothers apple tree looks just like this and last summer I just started watering it and giving it attention and it grew tons of beautiful apples!!!

  • @baylee_baby_
    @baylee_baby_3 жыл бұрын

    Just what I needed my father hasn't been able to do the yard work for awhile so once I moved closer I knew I needed to help him, but I know nothing about this stuff haha. Thank you!

  • @learn_live

    @learn_live

    Жыл бұрын

    Bless you!

  • @w.c.6678
    @w.c.66782 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for sharing your Time and Knowledge, and NOT making it insulting for those of us who are New to this! God Bless you and yours!

  • @cher4705
    @cher47054 ай бұрын

    Nicely done, professional video. Thanks!

  • @RG-wy1ol
    @RG-wy1ol4 ай бұрын

    I will watch this video over and over until I get this DIY project done

  • @msheart2
    @msheart2 Жыл бұрын

    My goal is to have a productive apple tree, to trim it without any one getting hurt, and not destroying the tree. Thanks for sharing.

  • @jamespeatling7660
    @jamespeatling7660 Жыл бұрын

    In the UK advice from old gardening books is to remove branches that cross to avoid letting disease in and to remove unwanted larger branches in three separate events two years apart. So some in year one,next in year three and final set in year five. This allows for continual fruit bearing and minimum disruption to tree. Orchards appear to have 70 year life and here new plantations are set up next to old at 50 years. Often three rows of a dozen. A third patch remains for use on a 200 year cycle. The original Bramley apple tree is currently failing at 200 years old.

  • @jackcronk
    @jackcronk3 ай бұрын

    Just the advice I was looking for … up here in Canada.

  • @nixonsprguy3629
    @nixonsprguy36292 жыл бұрын

    Dude, your content helped me to transform my neglected piece of land to a really neat place with genuinely nice fruits. Thx a lot.

  • @krisholden5365
    @krisholden536511 ай бұрын

    Wonderful video. Thank you for sharing this and also for the beautiful message at the end. Glad to see that you’re in beautiful Northern Lower Michigan! It’s one of my favorite places on earth and where I was raised. God bless.

  • @sylvia106
    @sylvia10611 ай бұрын

    I see this a great learning opportunity and excellent for hands on pruning experience.

  • @curtcmiller
    @curtcmiller2 жыл бұрын

    This motivates me to work on some big trees that need it.

  • @RangeToyz
    @RangeToyz Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this and the last pear tree video I watched. I’ll always come back for more.

  • @GoGracefully
    @GoGracefully2 жыл бұрын

    Tree pruning = excellent. Civics lesson at the end A+. God bless you!

  • @lh6740
    @lh674010 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much for your knowledge. I just trimmed my friends apple tree. I hope I did good. I know it's a bit early in the season. But maybe I did a good job ..so we need to rid of all the branches that grow upwards. 😊🍎🍏. Maybe I'll look up grafting her tree also so she has a nice variety for next year.

  • @debralucas6091
    @debralucas60913 жыл бұрын

    Got some good tips to use when tackling my 25 year old pear tree that hasn’t ever been pruned thank you

  • @gosmoothgolight7567
    @gosmoothgolight75674 жыл бұрын

    As a Veteran of the USAF, I sincerely appreciate your comment at the end. This video was exactly what I was looking for, very well done! Thank you for sharing, sir ... God Bless

  • @shanechostetler9997
    @shanechostetler9997 Жыл бұрын

    Nicely done, I enjoy looking back after the trees are all pruned and admiring the work that has been done.

  • @kennethciardullo3534
    @kennethciardullo35343 жыл бұрын

    You are a good man helping people

  • @williamfischer458
    @williamfischer4583 ай бұрын

    This video gave me the courage to tackle to monster apple trees today. I wish I could share my pictures. Thanks

  • @chuckkottke
    @chuckkottke3 жыл бұрын

    Perfect video Gary! Just right for resurrecting an old orchard; many thanks to you for providing this video.🍎

  • @lfk6370
    @lfk63702 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Gary. A delight as always.

  • @briancaleb6503
    @briancaleb6503 Жыл бұрын

    Wow, really made a difference!

  • @Lvaladez114
    @Lvaladez1143 жыл бұрын

    Love the end message! God bless!

  • @francesbernard2445
    @francesbernard24452 жыл бұрын

    Here in Edmonton, Alberta Canada just this last Saturday on April 29, 2022 a high minded tall guy with his handy dandy tree pruner pole came by the other day along with his buddy and a bucket truck after I called EPCOR to drop the power line passing through my apple tree so at age 65 I could finish taking down the large limbs of the really neglected apple tree that was in my back yard when I got here to stay. He took one look at me and another look at the ladder I had set up against the tree and then instead decided to lop off the top of the tree himself with his handy dandy tree pruner pole after getting my permission to do so first. I will get around to saving up enough for paying EPCOR to put the power line to my home underground some day too.

  • @dawnrobins9779
    @dawnrobins97793 жыл бұрын

    Thank You! This was clear, step by step instructions!

  • @lawrenceladia
    @lawrenceladia Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for this video. I have 18 year old apple & apple trees that I never got around to pruning and this video gave a better idea on pruning it this fall season. zone 6B

  • @kevinfranklin4977
    @kevinfranklin4977 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you sir for sharing this video. Very helpful.

  • @hammockmonk
    @hammockmonk2 жыл бұрын

    I had a very similar tree and after three or four years, it's looking well maintained once more and has become quite productive. Good luck, pruners!

  • @TheDennys21

    @TheDennys21

    2 жыл бұрын

    How hard did you prune it the first time? When did it produce fruit after that?

  • @KS-db5bc
    @KS-db5bc11 ай бұрын

    This is the video I needed. Thanks

  • @DonCurrier
    @DonCurrier4 ай бұрын

    Loved the outro patriot!!

  • @shirleycolopy4322
    @shirleycolopy43223 жыл бұрын

    Nice job and Great message in the end!!!! 🇺🇸

  • @lorrainewise7258
    @lorrainewise72583 жыл бұрын

    Great video Gary, can't believe I have pruned my huge apple tree beautifully after following all your instructions. Was dreading it, but it seemed so easy following your advise. A massive "Thank you".

  • @ritadaniels7931
    @ritadaniels79314 жыл бұрын

    This is the best, most informative and realistic video I have seen. Although a difficult job. Great and straight forward advice to understand. xxxxx

  • @GaryHeilig

    @GaryHeilig

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for your comments. I appreciate the feedback.

  • @am4230
    @am42304 жыл бұрын

    You did a nice job for a year one prune, I think the shape was nice actually! Love your comment at the end, hopefully we can get the FISA court cleaned up, peace!

  • @am4230

    @am4230

    4 жыл бұрын

    Apple trees and governments do best when well-exposed to light ;)

  • @Rameus
    @Rameus4 жыл бұрын

    Your ending message.......I liked it. And Thank You!

  • @christyj24
    @christyj243 жыл бұрын

    Praise God for our nation and your apple tree info!!

  • @jmack619
    @jmack6193 жыл бұрын

    Hi Gary. Fitting that I found this video on Remberance Day. Thank you. I am in Canada, about to prune 2 decorative crabapple trees in the front yard. Appreciate your videos

  • @Legend0222
    @Legend02223 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, i have a couple of these trees in my yard and have been researching how to care for them, your video was very helpful!

  • @dkersey5292
    @dkersey52922 жыл бұрын

    The pruned tree is beautiful. Your videos are wonderful and your explanations are clear and easy to understand. Your dry humor is good too. Pruned fruit trees are beautiful especially in the spring with all the blossoms and in the winter against a wintery field. Thanks for sharing your expertise.

  • @ccthepope
    @ccthepope5 жыл бұрын

    Gary, Loved your video ( as always ) and I loved your sentiments at the end. God bless you!

  • @GaryHeilig

    @GaryHeilig

    5 жыл бұрын

    I appreciate your comment and the blessing.

  • @cindyrobinson9370
    @cindyrobinson93704 ай бұрын

    Thanks Gary 🙂

  • @bobross9895
    @bobross98953 жыл бұрын

    When the closing message came up, I subscribed.

  • @WmArthur

    @WmArthur

    3 жыл бұрын

    Me Too!

  • @chrisp4170

    @chrisp4170

    3 жыл бұрын

    What does it mean, though? Its cryptic...

  • @nathanclaudia

    @nathanclaudia

    3 жыл бұрын

    Me too! My heart felt so warm when I read this message from a fellow patriot.

  • @chrisp4170

    @chrisp4170

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@nathanclaudia Thought this was about apple trees…

  • @Free_Falastin2024

    @Free_Falastin2024

    3 ай бұрын

    I down voted because I'm a person of morality and ethics. Free the world from corporate greed and militarily occupation. Don't be sheep, stand on the right side of history.

  • @FamSword
    @FamSword3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for this video! Super helpful and I can see it was a tough job, but you seemed to pull it off great!

  • @americanrifleman2992
    @americanrifleman29923 жыл бұрын

    Youre Ending comment, put a lump in my throat. Thank you for remembering our Veterans and those who serve so selflessly.

  • @GaryHeilig

    @GaryHeilig

    3 жыл бұрын

    You are very welcome.

  • @astapuppy1
    @astapuppy1 Жыл бұрын

    Your video is amazing! You are so clear and organized with your directions! Thank you so much! Fantastic job!!

  • @dag118
    @dag118 Жыл бұрын

    Our heirloom apple trees were ever sprayed. Delicious apples, but difficult to harvest a 30 foot tree! Thanks for video.

  • @guyinpajamapants6892
    @guyinpajamapants68924 жыл бұрын

    This was the best video I’ve seen yet! A huge help! Thanks!

  • @angeloverdoni4999
    @angeloverdoni49995 жыл бұрын

    Another excellent video. I can apply this to some neglected trees on the property now with some confidence. Thank you for taking the time to disseminate this information and your effort to educate effectively.

  • @terrim.602

    @terrim.602

    2 жыл бұрын

    I like how he explains why he chooses the branches and once he gets done with some of the work, he gives us a visual of his progress. I wish we could see the tree with apples on it during the growing season ☺️☺️!

  • @GoMommaGo
    @GoMommaGo3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the message at the end. Couldn't agree more!

  • @humanbn1057
    @humanbn10572 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the information. You were clear and concise.

  • @timdex91
    @timdex915 жыл бұрын

    Nicely done!!!

  • @cowboymcq6711
    @cowboymcq67112 жыл бұрын

    O MY GOD put your glasses back on wouldn’t want you to poke your eye out ❕❕❕ Those apple tree branches are vicious. I feel so much better after you used that chainsaw you put some glasses on THANKS great videos

  • @jerichoreed22
    @jerichoreed22 Жыл бұрын

    I'm happy to see this video--first I've seen about pruning a mature, neglected tree rather than ones that have been recently planted or relatively taken care of. There are definitely a lot of these older kinds out there. My dad and I started doing this with our old McIntosh several years ago, he had bought it decades ago thinking it was a dwarf but not so much. My parents had let it get away from them over the years, so I said let's bite the bullet and go hard after it. I went to school for Horticulture and Landscaping, and one thing I remembered from there was when dealing with an older tree, you can go hard but not TOO hard. Taking a max of about 1/3 in a year so you're not taking too much of the food production for the tree (leaves) away from it. But even 1/3 of a big, mature tree can still be a LOT of branches :) And with apples, boy will they send the suckers and watersprouts out when you start pruning on a yearly basis. Just keeping up is a job all in itself

  • @darinkriener1300

    @darinkriener1300

    Жыл бұрын

    Trimming back to the growth point, or node, significantly helps reduce the suckers. 1/3 is max, unless it needs the shock I usually try to be under 25%. These hacks that talk about cutting everything off are sacrificing the long term production, health, and longevity of their trees for the short term production.

  • @weta-linetv5354
    @weta-linetv53547 ай бұрын

    That was a great video, thankyou.

  • @owheydusoapsk
    @owheydusoapsk3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you. I have an old apple tree and was looking for this info.

  • @MarioGarcia-ip6qx
    @MarioGarcia-ip6qx2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for you warm words at the end of your tutorial. May God bless our country.

  • @Desertphile

    @Desertphile

    3 ай бұрын

    Did your country sneeze?

  • @NotitiaRecolligo
    @NotitiaRecolligo2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you. I love your ending. God bless.

  • @dwoo4986
    @dwoo49863 ай бұрын

    Beautiful ending message. God Bless!

  • @travispangborn4403
    @travispangborn44033 жыл бұрын

    Well thanks for showing everything.

  • @outthere9370
    @outthere937010 ай бұрын

    I pruned a apple tree last year. It's very vigorous. Like this tree it had grown quite tall. Not as big as this one though. I cut back quiet hard & closer to the base of the tree which has a "open" centre as apposed to a central leader. The branches were quite thick. I'm astonished as to the proliferation of new growth! With the tree now "shorter" it will be easier to maintain & harvest. 😋

  • @amalatesta
    @amalatesta3 жыл бұрын

    Very helpful! You’re an awesome dude 👍

  • @johnalig6343
    @johnalig63432 ай бұрын

    ❤thanks for the info. Great help!

  • @stevecochran2677
    @stevecochran26774 жыл бұрын

    Nice job Gary!!

  • @GaryHeilig

    @GaryHeilig

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you. It was a risky job. I don't like being off the ground with a chain saw. Thanks for watching.

  • @aternst
    @aternst3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this post sir!

  • @jisa39
    @jisa39 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent video

  • @Nobody18718
    @Nobody187182 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Gary

  • @pamalajjohnson9576
    @pamalajjohnson95762 жыл бұрын

    Great job

  • @michaeldougfir9807
    @michaeldougfir98075 жыл бұрын

    Greetings from rural NE California - again! In all my years of pruning I have decided that the apple tree is the most neglected fruit tree in America. Thanks for another good, instructive video. I'm sure people will be helped by your work. Also, as a US Naval Veteran, I wish to thank you for your Memorial Day acknowledgement. You are very considerate.

  • @GaryHeilig

    @GaryHeilig

    5 жыл бұрын

    My father was a Navy vet. Thank you so much for your service and also for watching.

  • @1yehny
    @1yehny2 жыл бұрын

    Subbed for your video and for your message.

  • @ashleylatour7644
    @ashleylatour76444 жыл бұрын

    I'm so glad to have found this! Thank you for the content, this makes me feel a little more confident about tending a recently inherited apple tree in the front yard on quite a busy street.

  • @JackedRado71
    @JackedRado713 жыл бұрын

    Our tree was dwindling, so we pruned the entire top off. The next few years yielded some of the biggest and best apples it’s ever had. Needless to say, it well over due for another haircut. You’d think it would kill it cutting that much but it does the complete opposite. Might even try grafting on some other apple colors this time

  • @QueenJuliana
    @QueenJuliana3 жыл бұрын

    Excellent. Thank you.

  • @patnelson4289
    @patnelson4289 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you very well done .

  • @pozin05
    @pozin05 Жыл бұрын

    Great video, thank you

  • @garyschemke1881
    @garyschemke18814 жыл бұрын

    Wow this is like 20 miles from my house. I think it helps me to watch someone who grows in the same climate as me.

  • @JerryDozierKanishkaCombatives
    @JerryDozierKanishkaCombatives3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Sir....very helpful.

  • @lindapotratz2481
    @lindapotratz24818 ай бұрын

    A follow up on how the tree looked the next year would have been interesting to see . Thank you .

  • @demiserofd
    @demiserofd Жыл бұрын

    Great video, in future videos it would be great to have a before and after at the end for comparison.

  • @gregoryjames7976
    @gregoryjames79764 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for your help. We have some old gnarly trees that need attention. I would recommend a high quality hand saw. (silky saws are excellent, a little expensive, however, buy cheap get cheap). Great when the chainsaw can be tough/scary to use up in the tree.

  • @pedro97w
    @pedro97w4 жыл бұрын

    great video from a great guy.

  • @GaryHeilig

    @GaryHeilig

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for your kind words. They keep me going.

  • @mello8939
    @mello89393 жыл бұрын

    Wow one year ago you gave the reminder to be mindful of our freedoms. How far things have regressed in the last year. Where will we be a year from now?

  • @terrim.602
    @terrim.6022 жыл бұрын

    I have several apple trees like the little one next to that big one. I love this video. I subscribed hoping to find videos to care for short, transplanted apple trees and ones that look like the skinny scraggly tree next to the big apple tree you are working on. (I had a tree like the big one at my old house I sold. Thank you!

  • @ricosaurus
    @ricosaurus2 жыл бұрын

    thanks for the helpful video -- have several nearly century old apple and pear trees -- the apples a fair bit bigger than this, on our property. This helps. As to aesthetics, that is somewhat in the eye of the beholder -- I want to keep these old trees for their aged quality -- asymmetry, variety of stem sizes -- those qualities enhanced by niwaki. I am also growing roses up through them. As to fruit -- I have plenty of space for young productive trees.

  • @country4lyfe365
    @country4lyfe3653 жыл бұрын

    Enjoyed this video...very very helpful God bless..Chris.Indiana

  • @GaryHeilig

    @GaryHeilig

    3 жыл бұрын

    I am glad it was helpful. Thank you for watching.

  • @jimmatheson948
    @jimmatheson9482 жыл бұрын

    My nickname is Johnny Appleseed ... nice to meet and share your experience and insights.

  • @banditeastlick2471
    @banditeastlick24712 жыл бұрын

    Freedom is more than worth fighting for

  • @tfrost33elkhunter
    @tfrost33elkhunter2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @a.wilkins1708
    @a.wilkins17083 жыл бұрын

    well said Sir!

  • @apparitionappalachian4591
    @apparitionappalachian45912 жыл бұрын

    Thank you 😊