Is it ok to train and prune apple trees now

[DG1]

I planted some apple and pear trees out of state this april. I cut them way back and trained them to have horizontal limbs. Some of the branches have grown alot this summer and are not horizontal. I also have some competing leaders that I want to cut. Should I do this now or in the winter or wait till spring?

[brushpile]

I'm not an expert, but if you prune now, the trees will have to wait until Spring to heal over. During that wait, disease can enter the tree. It's best to wait until Spring to prune in my opinion.

[WV Huntaholic]

It is best to prune during late winter or early spring. You just want to prune before any new growth occurs.

[HabitatMD]

I listen to a local gardening show every so often and the fellow preaches only pruning in early spring.

[Bnhpr]

Originally Posted by DG1

I planted some apple and pear trees out of state this april. I cut them way back and trained them to have horizontal limbs. Some of the branches have grown alot this summer and are not horizontal. I also have some competing leaders that I want to cut. Should I do this now or in the winter or wait till spring?

any time after the coldest part of winter is over....up until bud swell/break. After bud break is more risky for infection.

[Timber Doodle]

You can prune any time, but there some better and worse times to prune. Late winter/early spring is typically the most common time to prune and may be considered the "best" time to prune. Anytime when they're dormant is better than when they're growing. Times you may want to shy away from are while they're putting on leaves in the spring and during leaf drop in the fall.

Either way there is no time of pruning that will be critically damaging or fatal to the tree.

And there is no reason to have to rush time and prune now. Just start a routine of always looking at the trees and performing pruning during late winter/early spring every 1, 2, or 3 years.

[DG1]

Thanks guys, would it hurt anything for me to tie down my more verticle growing branches right now?

[Timber Doodle]

That shouldn't be a problem either. You should only need to leave them tied down for a year or so.

[smsmith]

The only thing to be careful of when tying down branches now (or anytime they aren't "green" and growing) is to not put so much pressure on them that they break at the trunk. Learned that one the hard way. A better time for tying would be late spring/early summer

[maya]

I'll second what Ben & SM said. Go hunting now, prune after the worst of the cold is over and before bud break. Train when the trees get green and are more pliable!