Hi All I am new to this forum. I bought a semi-dwarf apple about 5 years ago to espalier. I have tried to prune it in a fan shape. It seems very vigorous and on schedule has just begun to produce blossoms [only about 10 but its a start]. I have read a lot of conflicting information on pruning -- especially pruning cordons or espalier versus regular trees. Most advice on apples says prune from December to February, on cordons it says prune in mid-august. Most says prune away downward growing branches, but w espalier it seems you want to train the tree to fan downwards so it will put energy into apple production. I have some specific questions about pruning my tree. I know it needs some thinning out over the winter [and possibly August] [photo 1] but I am wondering about specific pruning issues. The first is when and how to prune the shoots that are growing straight up from the largest horizontal branches at the top of the tree. [photo 2] The second is whether it would make sense to prune away the branch on the lower left of the crotch of the tree, [although it is fairly large] in hopes that the much weaker branch immediately below it would begin to take over as in the long term it is spaced at a much better distance from the main branches. If anyone can give me advice on this I would be most appreciative!
Looks generally OK although it might be a bit thin overall and there is one or two places where growth is bunching up. And, of course, there is those long vertical shoots. Cut back (mostly) or cut out (occasionally) what you think doesn't belong. I wouldn't, however remove any of the main branches.
