What if I have a tree that's already too big?
Here's how to Tame that Big & Old tree!
The most important consideration
is the overall height of the tree.
Working on a large tree can be a dangerous undertaking. If the tree is taller than 20 feet, or taller than you feel safe on a ladder, call a professional arborist! I always would recommend hiring a professional to help with a Really Big job.
The next consideration is the age of the tree.
Working on trees older than 20 years can be a mistake.
Some old trees can be beyond their half-life, and the trauma of a drastic reduction in size could make them more susceptible to other problems.
Again, consult a professional arborist if this is a concern.
If you love the fruit, then it is most important to maintain the health of the older tree, otherwise, have it removed and replace it with a great-tasting variety.
The steps to bring down an overgrown tree begin with sizing up the tree and developing a plan. Look at the total height of the tree in relation to where the canopy begins.
Think of the tree in terms of coming down in thirds over three years.
If the canopy begins at three feet, then taking down a 15 ft. tree by 2/3rd would leave a 2 ft. tall canopy for fruit to form.
This is not much.
The higher the canopy begins (the taller the trunk), the more the consideration must be made on how much to cut back the tree and still be left with a reasonable fruiting area. A three foot high canopy is best. The more fruit that you will use, the taller the remaining canopy needs to be.
The process starts in the winter.
The tree must be cut back by 1/3rd This will stimulate limb development below the cuts.
In spring (April-May), when the tree is flush with growth, cut just below the winter cuts, removing this spring flush. This will redirect the growth to stimulate lower limb development.
The following winter, the next third of the tree comes off. Again, in the spring, the resulting spring growth is removed. Do not remove limbs that are forming lower in the canopy: these may be used as scaffold limbs.
The third year, how you prune will determine the eventual size of the tree. The same process is followed for winter pruning, except for the amount that will be removed. At this point, one determines the canopy size vs. the overall height of the tree.
Remember: the fruiting body of the tree should be at least 3 feet high to insure a reasonable crop in the future.
