Pruning My Apple Trees

There are 2 basic rules to pruning apple trees. Prune in the winter for form and prune in the summer for production. Let's take a walk out to the orchard and I'll show you how to prune apple trees, or at least how I prune them. We'll identify fruit spurs from water sprouts and get these trees cleaned up and ready for spring. These are my espalier trees so they're much easier to prune than full size apple trees and that's just the way we like it.
Winter Pruning: • Winter Pruning of Espa...
Summer Pruning: • How to Prune Apple and...
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[@MikeKincaid79]

My first video with the iphone. Love the wide angle view but need to work on the color and rendering. Quality will get better over time. Hope you enjoy this one!

[@danimiller1240]

Hi Mike! Love your propagation videos. I have a question about propagating bottle brush trees. Can I root an inch and a half to two inch branch? I want to bonsai it. Any suggestions?

[@greenthumbelina7331]

Mike, I love seeing your great example of parenting, and these wonderful teaching moments. Your daughters, Ally and Emily, are learning things from you and Shelly that other kids never have a chance to learn. Good job, Dad and Mom! ~Margie😊👨‍👩‍👧‍👧

[@MikeKincaid79]

We’re trying to do our best. They light us up.

[@SiriusScientist]

Your daughter did such a good job! You had a great point too, for all of us beginners, if we prune something we wish we hadn’t, it will grow back so don’t be too nervous. Great video and I hope you’ll do a follow up for summer pruning and harvests as well!

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks! We’ll definitely do followups this summer.

[@robertmcmeel5456]

Mike, I very much enjoy your videos. I like the way you get your children involved with your projects and you teach them. I can't grow anything that you do, as I live in south Louisiana because it stays too warm, but you have taught me a lot about pruning and rooting that I use on plants and trees that can grow in my area. You along with a few others have inspired me to root and grow fig trees, which I have about 15 different trees. At 66 years old, it does show that you can teach an old dog new tricks. Keep up with the GREAT videos. Thanks

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks so much, Robert! Love the comment and I'm so glad you're getting into figs and having fun growing plants.

[@MB-co6qj]

The Kiwi Grower channel probably has more suitable fruits for your zone! :)

[@scottbeavers1713]

Excellent video Mike. I am trying a similar technique in my own garden and you’re correct in saying it is a never ending battle. A battle worth fighting though. Plus your kids begin to understand the art and science behind horticulture 👍🏻👍🏻

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes! It's all about the kids, and she had a lot of fun doing this job with me. Good luck with your trees. I think the espalier look is so fascinating.

[@mikedan297]

Good job! It seems so peaceful and pleasant to see you working together.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks! It was a lot of fun doing this job with my daughter.

[@Paul-Coburn]

Orchard looking good Mike

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks Paul, it's coming along. I see it in my mind 10 years from now. All I have to do is just keep pruning.

[@DOLsenior]

Wonderful to see your daughter be happy to be doing the apple trees. Her smile is inspirational.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

This is awesome. I've been prioritizing more "specialty" plants on my property in the beginning - mostly figs, citrus, persimmons, pawpaws, etc. But, this winter, I finally pulled the trigger on the "traditional" fruits - apples, peaches and Asian Pears. I will be growing them espalier to save space and following virtually the same setup. I went with G.210 rootstock as I wanted the smallest apple rootstock I could get that are well-anchored and don't require support thanks to the hurricane threats here in Wilmington. I went with Sundowner (Cripps Red) and Winecrisp. We'll see how it goes. Disease here is a major problem, and these are supposed to be "heat tolerant" 😁

[@MikeKincaid79]

Sounds like you found the right rootstock for your purposes and I'm sure you put a ton of time into researching it. As you know, you can't go wrong with espalier pruning. Save space, easy picking, easy pruning. What's not to love. Good luck and I'll head over and check out what you've been up to lately.

[@chadhayes8310]

That is some happy little trees. Now I am showing my age too. I love how you are teaching your daughter to prune. It makes me think of the the times my grandfather spent teaching me about fruit trees. Great video!

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks Chad!

[@sandieweatherup]

You're such a good dad, teacher and encourager. 😊

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thank you so much Sandie!

[@PlanetMojo]

I've pruned with my daughter for years, and we had an awesome time! She mostly pruned in my vineyard, but I taught her the "flat top" form for apple/cherry trees the last few years. She is in the process of moving out now so that has come to an end - at least for now. 🙁 I'm thinking of trying the espalier system next year as it is a lot like the training system in the vineyard, but in the end it's still tree pruning. Hopefully I can get my daughter back to help prune them 😉 I call summer pruning hedging, but it's the same thing regardless the name.

[@MikeKincaid79]

I dread the day that these girls leave. Trying to enjoy every moment while I can.

[@stevemorgan2173]

Great video! Very informative! Thanks!!! Of MUCH greater importance than growing apples, is the wonderful way you are "growing" your daughter. You are instilling values and making memories that will last for her lifetime...and beyond!!! Great parenting job as well!!!

[@MikeKincaid79]

I really appreciate the nice comment Steve. It's all about my daughter's now. Just trying to hand it all over to them in the short amount of time I have left with them in these early years. Going by way too fast.

[@kennethreister7619]

Mike RE rooting pruned branches: I've used pruned branches as garden stakes. Yes, they sometimes take root. Its great to have free stakes and poles that just get stronger instead of rotting in the ground.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yeah, that's such a neat concept. Goes along with living fences.

[@carminepetracca7518]

what a fun video mike and alley. I'm actually watching the snow coming down and watching you guys with jackets on gardening. you are such a good dad mike. my father would have pulled the pruning shears right out of my hands and make me watch from a way. great clippins of fun. very enjoyable. luvin the music and the fast forward. alls well, carmine p.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks Carmine. I worked really hard on this video and we had a lot of fun making it. Unfortunately, it was my first time filming with the iphone and I had some problems getting it from phone to finished video. I'll get better with it over time. Enjoy your Sunday!

[@carminepetracca7518]

@@MikeKincaid79 - you did very well mike. it was professional. cp.

[@wildchook745]

Good that you're showing your daughter how to do it. She will remember this wonderful moment with her Dad, pruning apple trees. Just precious and cute. You two did a fab job. It looks good.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks Mary! Had a lot of fun.

[@mneraasen224]

Really enjoyed this video 🙌🏻💗 Allie did a phenomenal job 🌟

[@MikeKincaid79]

So happy you enjoyed it Denise!

[@jim70ful]

Mike is the master of pruning and all this gardening...thank you for sharing.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks so much Jim. I think I love pruning as much as propagating.

[@nickangelovski4358]

You’re a good man, God bless you brother 😁

[@grammaandginga6693]

Love how you teach and encourage your sweet daughter!!💗🍏

[@Nurse_Lucy]

You teaching Alli makes my heart smile. Wish I could "love" this video

[@MikeKincaid79]

Awe, how about I love your comment.

[@stevieb6173]

like father like daughters , cool guys cool , well done mike👍👍👌👌

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks Stevie!

[@Treeguy1111]

Your daughter is a great camera girl not to mention it’s great your having her help. I do the same with my kids. Thanks for video

[@MikeKincaid79]

Your welcome. I love involving them in these videos. They're in a few of them with me. You guys over in Spanaway? Your shirts say Bethel on them.

[@jenn6838]

Thanks for a great tutorial, Mike! It's great to learn while you are teaching your daughter. Very informative and relaxed at the same time. Your espalier trees are looking great!

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks so much Jennifer! We had a lot of fun and I'm really happy with how these trees are developing.

[@allykincaid3362]

That was a very fun day with you!! Love you. 👍

[@MikeKincaid79]

I had a lot of fun too, buddy!

[@arturwajda2159]

Love it. Greetings from Poland

[@juliarroberts1621]

Thanks Mike…. I am just now starting my orchard. I was unsure of how to shape my apple trees but this video cleared it all up for me. I will be mimicking your espalier 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@MikeKincaid79]

It’s such a beautiful way to shape fruit trees and much easier to manage.

[@zaviahopethomas-woundedsou9848]

I love that your are teaching your daughter how to do this!

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes! She had a lot of fun and I have good father/daughter memories.

[@meredithgriffin7641]

Thank you for the great video. I loved seeing your daughter help. It inspires me to let me kids help me prune the pear and apple tree. I was always afraid of ruining my young fruit trees. I love when you said “that’s ok we’ll start over again” (after the tree branch broke). I like the attitude and need to remember it’s ok if things break.

[@MikeKincaid79]

That's the best lesson in this video! Glad you enjoyed it, Meredith.

[@chriscoyne5539]

Great job as usual Mike and family. U make me miss my college aged daughters so badly. Good job again. Treasure these moments

[@MikeKincaid79]

Oh man, that hits home for me. I was just talking with Shellie about that the other day. Time is flying so fast and I'm doing everything humanly possible to enjoy these years.

[@Paul-Coburn]

Bob would say "No mistakes Just happy accidents"

[@MikeKincaid79]

That's it! LOL I loved watching him while growing up.

[@sallyeblen7032]

Abby and Emily are learning a lot,smart girls you have.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thank you!

[@narenthakur6132]

Thats really a great pruning. i loved it.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Getting ready to do it again.

[@ronaldbarrett9148]

Your a good man . It shows in the way you treat your children . Thanks for a great and informative video . 👍👍👍👍

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks so much Ronald. I think all we want is to be able to look back and say we did something right with our kids. It's all about the next generation.

[@osvaldocontrerassr.7589]

Great video love to see you whit your daughters they are growing so fast

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks Osvaldo. Yep, time is flying fast.

[@janetmcfarlane1521]

This is the best no nonsence pruning video. Gave me the confidence to tackle my pear and apple espaliers. Thank you.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Glad it was helpful!

[@CapricaSoul]

Great editing! Fantastic! Thanks dude! 😎

[@MikeKincaid79]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@luzcortez6255]

Wow amazing ❣️

[@plantsomething]

Looks great Mike. That's by far the best way to do apples. So much eaiser,an safer too harvest. You two make a good team !

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks Dean! Had a lot of fun out there with her. I love pruning this way and you're absolutely right that it's the best way.

[@marciahofer4502]

Mike, this was such a nice video! The music you chose was perfect. You and Ally looked like you were dancing and enjoying yourselves. Pruning can be work, but you made it look fun. Ally did such a great job helping you! She is a natural at gardening. You have a bond with your daughters that is absolutely wonderful! The trees you trimmed looked very nice. Thanks for showing us your way to trim fruit trees!!

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks so much Marcia! We had a lot of fun out there together. Ally is getting to an age where she loves hanging out with Dad and learning about what I'm doing.

[@benxue2622]

really like this video. I have a 2 year old Espaliered apple tree. I am following this.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Right on! Glad you enjoyed it. I've got links in the description to 2 other apple and pear pruning videos from several years ago on these same trees.

[@babox8244]

Thanks for the tutorial on trimming espalier trees !👍👍For our chicken coup,I poured a concrete slab which is elevated about 1' above grade .The reason for this was it makes cleaning the coup easy .We just use a pressure washer when needed and it cleans up really well in a short time .Also,the concrete keeps the chicken's toe nails short from the scratching on the rough slab .I keep a sandbox full of diatomaceous earth,which keeps lice etc off of the birds .

[@irfansaleemvlogs]

Nice

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks

[@theodoreboyer2275]

Great work as always Mike.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks Theodore.

[@bryonyhellis]

This was fascinating, I’d love updates in the future

[@MikeKincaid79]

Definitely will have them. We’ll have to do one this summer too.

[@madelinerivers4603]

Thanks so much, Mike!!!!

[@MikeKincaid79]

Very welcome, Madeline!

[@ghassanalsubhi6981]

Shout out from Saudi Arabia love your work. Great job👏🏻👏🏻👍🏼

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thank you so much 😀

[@IvantusTV2024]

Hello friends!!! 🖐️😎👍

[@MikeKincaid79]

Hello 👋

[@nkc9788]

Great video thank you… working on getting my girls out to the garden too. 👍🏽

[@MikeKincaid79]

They'll definitely benefit from it.

[@dadmezz4024]

Thanks Mike for inspiring me to prune my fruit trees even though it is April...maybe next year I will have some nice fruits. Thanks for explaining water and fruit buds.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yeah, no problem. I’ll show more of these trees as they develop.

[@liamgrows]

NOW THAT FRUIT THINGY WILL HELP ME OUT THANKS FOR TELLING US

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yep, prune for fruit spurs. I'll so a summer video too to explain it more.

[@maxchu158]

Amazing

[@truthofthematter9409]

I'm with Ally, yellow delicious is my favorite too! If you get the right one the fruit tastes tropical and dreamy! Addicted to pruning and deadheading! lolz Great skills being taught that will last a lifetime

[@MikeKincaid79]

You can't go wrong with tropical and dreamy!

[@daleglenny8253]

My coop gets an absolute max of monthly, more often every 2 or 3 depending on the weather. The laying area gets sifted every couple of weeks but no shavings added. It doesn’t smell. I also add shredded eucalyptus leaves from our trees which keeps the smell and bugs down.

[@soonzach4017]

Hello Mike, you have a wonderful helper,beautiful job 👍🙏 happy new year to you and your family 👋

[@MikeKincaid79]

Happy New Year!

[@2Birds1Stone_]

Awesome!

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks!

[@RCCRAYZ]

Absolutely loved this video Mike! Very informative! Now I know exactly how I need to prune my apple trees. Thankyou for you explanation on pruning. I've watched hundreds of videos and never got as much info out of them as this video lol. And your phone did a great job at filming.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks man. I need to tweak the video quality and rendering but not bad for flying blind.

[@teresamunoz4086]

Hi, really enjoyed watching this video. It’s beautiful what you’re teaching your daughters, great job!! and you’re right , there’s no right or wrong, its just happy little accidents 🤣

[@MikeKincaid79]

LOL, that's it!

[@kincaidwoodworking8578]

You're a good dad, Miguel

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks buddy. You're not half bad yourself.

[@mattmcghee1137]

What a Fabulous video Mike. This makes me want to espalier some mulberries maybe. I love the way you incorporate your daughter. We learn and they learn. I may sense a YT gardening channel with her. Simply love it. One of my favorites.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks Matt. She sure does like to be in the vids. Maybe I’ll bring her along more often.

[@HoneyDoHomestead]

I like your orchard! Do you have a video detailing your setup? Spacing between wood posts vs metal posts, and tree space, gauge wire, etc. It's hard to find that kind of detail.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Heck, I'll make a video for you!

[@princeisaiah9434]

I am also interested in knowing the set-up. Nice video, great work and regards to your pretty daughter

[@Jay_Jay]

Great video Mike. I need to prune my apple tree, it hadn’t been pruned in many many years when we moved in. Last winter we tidied it a little, cut about a third off. But it’s still a tangled web. I just don’t wanna kill it. :)

[@MikeKincaid79]

Hard to kill once established. Just make sure to do any heavy pruning in winter.

[@KatherineTheGr8t]

*Allie thank you for being on video and learning from your Dad while bringing us along.* It may not make a lot of sense right now but after you take some horticultural classes in high school or college, it will start to gel. And even if you don't take horticulture or floriculture classes just helping your Dad you will help you learn probably more than you can even learn in a classroom (at least we subscribers on his YT channel think so : ) Again thanks for being a good sport being on YT -- my own son (19 yo) would love if I had a YT channel, he would likely photo bomb it at every chance he could get, but learning is my thing, not teaching. So no YT channel in my future, maybe his future - just never know right now and I'm NOT PUSHING him to make any lifelong decisions. You teenagers need to still be discovering everything you can...foreign places and all that jazz. *Mike, any time the girls help on video is a real treat for us subs. Great job to the entire Kincaid Family! : D*

[@MikeKincaid79]

What a wonderful comment! I’ll show it to Ally. Maybe I need to include the girls more now that they’re getting older.

[@tysoncarter8334]

Loved seeing you out teaching your daughter. Great video. It is hard to find good info on espalier.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes it can be. I’ve watched videos and read books about it over the years. There’s a whole world of it out there and many different forms of espalier.

[@minkademko2335]

You have an orchard arborist in training! Very cool. Great job on those trees, too. Best of hope for a bumper crop year after year 👍

[@MikeKincaid79]

Tons of blooms right now. We’ll see how they do this summer.

[@davidaleshire4292]

I would love to see these trees when they start to leaf out and flower.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Definitely will do it!

[@HippocratesGarden]

AAACK.. wish I had seen this like 2 weeks ago. I pruned my fairly new espalier and had no idea about looking for the fruiting buds.. Oh well, live and learn, plus I'm working on brand new property and will be starting from scratch there. Just ordered my rootstock..

[@MikeKincaid79]

You may still get some fruit. You can also prune in the summer for more fruit spurs. I’ll have to do a video.

[@amandanash7145]

Thanks Mike for all the helpful insight my 8 year old is just like your daughter and very interested in helping (he wants to try grafting so that is our spring project after we set up our greenhouse) and we are learning together which is the best quality time EVER. I am very hesitant on pruning and am even taking a pruning class in March haha. But I loved your comment on if you cut the wrong branch don't worry it will come back, that is very encouraging. I am curious On more detail on being able to identify the fruit spurs like an easy button that lights them up would be fantastic lol. This is probably what scares me the most. Ill leave all the "leaf branches and cut all the fruit branches" We also have Moonglow pear (we planted our pears last year) and Bartlett and we are planning on grafting an unknown variety this spring (possibly Kieffer) we definitely stay busy we have a tiny little family "orchard" blueberries, grapes, raspberries, the kiddos Mulberry saplings, 9 apple trees, 3 peach trees, a Nectarine and Plum and a cherry tree with 3 more cherry trees pre-ordered for 2023 lol.

[@MikeKincaid79]

You're so welcome, Amanda! Don't worry about pruning the wrong branch, you'll get it. Just keep learning and practicing and observing the results of what you do. It will take time but you'll get there. Have fun spending time in the garden with your kid!

[@chrispedersen6999]

Thanks for great video Mike. In NZ we grow Golden Delicious apple (your Golden) and Gala which we pronounce Gala as la la as in la la land😂. There is also Royal Gala which is redder, sweeter, crunchier and juicier, yummy. Hunt up a braeburn apple if you can. A great all rounder for cooking, bottling and eating. A bit zingy, crisp and not too sweet. Favourite 4 me .

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks for the suggestions Chris. We have the Golden Delicious here too but my daughter just had to have the Yellow Delicious. I think they're fairly similar. Braeburn is an older variety, if I remember correctly. I'll have to keep my eyes open for it.

[@Paul-Coburn]

Ali is becoming quite the horticulturist.

[@rickschulte8594]

Thank you mike, really enjoyed the vlog, in summer pruning of apples, are you really after keep the growth back?

[@MikeKincaid79]

The growth will be kept in check by pruning for growth spurs in summer.

[@lucilledavis1478]

Thank you for the video and how nice you are to your daughter . I have 3 sets like you but I have a terrible beetle problem and they destroy the leaves . If u have any ideas when I can prune I live in pa . Do I prune after the leaves fall ? Also do you use fertilizer. Thank you so much

[@MikeKincaid79]

At this point, I'd wait until after the leaves fall to prune. Wait until dormancy. I don't use fertilizer for these trees but the soil is rich.

[@adedoyinadenuga1484]

Very informative, thank you. What's the distance between the apple tree

[@MikeKincaid79]

10 feet. I just posted a video this morning about the details.

[@radutamas2014]

First: the music is 100% and again 100% to infinity- EXCELLLLLENTA Hello from Romania! Subscribed! Firt time I see you.Don't know why. Very good option this shape call Palmeta. All my admiration for your daughters! I have 2 as well but busy.....🤣🤣🤣 What about treatments...against diseases? Everything is in order, tidy! Lot of work! Where is that garden? Hot summers ? All the best to your familly!🥂🥂🥂🥂

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks Radu! Glad you enjoyed the video. We live in Western Washington State. We do get some heat during the summer for a couple months but it's actually a cooler climate for most of the year. Perfect for growing apples but wish it was a little hotter for the figs. All the best to you too!

[@camicri4263]

Good to see you and Ally! She grew so much, wow! Good job teaching her! Hugs to you all! Great video like always. Maybe have her ware protection glasses and gloves? Just in case. 🤗🤗🤗❤

[@MikeKincaid79]

Probably a good idea after I was accidentally shooting branches at her, lol

[@camicri4263]

Lol, precisely! It would be a good idea for all of us. I told my husband that he will be in trouble if he doesn't ware a hard hat when cutting trees. We think we are so invincible and you amd I know that's not the case! Hugs! Have an amazing week!🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@lindachristie8154]

This is my first time seeing one of your videos and I really enjoyed it.! Can you tell me if it’s ok to prune my tree if it still has leaves. I am in Atlantic Canada and it is early fall so I’m not sure if that would be what you consider a winter pruning time?

[@MikeKincaid79]

You can prune it now but I prefer to wait until winter when it’s dormant. I suppose it gets much colder sooner in your area so you may need to prune earlier, before the snow covers everything. Glad you enjoy the videos Linda!

[@theghostofsw6276]

Great video. Apple trees, and chicken coops are great for kids....I feel sorry for city kids that never get to experience these things.

[@MikeKincaid79]

yeah, me too

[@jaylin192]

thanks for the video! if you prune a branch back to only fruit spurs, is there a chance those spurs turn back into normal branching?

[@MikeKincaid79]

I haven’t noticed that happening but I’ll have to keep a closer watch for it.

[@alandrury9955]

Thanks for these great videos Mike and the previous ones. I've got two developing espalier apples over here in the UK and I'm learning a lot from you. Your climate looks similar to mine. What part of the country are you in?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes, we have very similar climates. In fact, many people compare our climate to the UK. I'm in Western Washington State, about 30 minutes east of Olympia, Wa. zone 8b. We have fairly mild climate. The winters are mostly in the 30's and 40's with occasional 50's, that's in Fahrenheit. We rarely get snow and when we do it melts the next day. The summers are mostly in the 70's and 80's but do get up into the 90's on occasion, but not for long. We hold the record in the US for highest number of cloudy days per year at 200 on average. We don't get torrential downpours of rain but just a constant light drizzle for most of the late fall, winter, and spring, with heavier rain in the spring. The summers are usually fairly dry with a couple showers throughout. I should add that if I can grow it here, you can more than likely grow it there. Have fun!

[@dberar55]

Great video. Pruning is the one part of gardening i dislike although I did prune one of my apple trees Friday. Big difference was I pruned it at ground level with a chainsaw. I've been her12 years and it never once produced a single apple.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Haha, oh boy! Sounds like you have it a heck of a haircut.

[@karllazlo6237]

Great video. I noticed you tie your branches pretty tight to the wire. Does it cause any girdling for you? I use the plastic green tape that flexes and stretches but also have a ton of twine that I could be using. Thanks.

[@MikeKincaid79]

I tie them loose near the trunk and tight at the ends to get them to conform. The following year, I cut them off and tie them looser so as not to cause girdling or unsightly wire lines.

[@catcolbert9044]

This was a relaxing and informative video. I'll be planting my first fruit tree ever this spring (a peach). I plan to espalier my tree as well to keep it small. I had a question about your last small pear tree. Could the vegetation growing around its base be the reason it's growth is not as vigorous as the other trees? It seems that those weeds may be sucking nutrients away from your pear tree.

[@MikeKincaid79]

No, I think it's the variety.

[@baldyeti]

Alone in the orchard with your cub workin on/with trees. She has a steady hand as the camera girl. Pretty soon, she’ll be doing all the work while you sit back and narrate. It’s interesting listening to you discuss the principles here with Ms. Alley, and how similar they are to Bonsai principles. The end goal is different, but the rest lines up. Did you let it grow out to bring energy back to its base for more fruit production this year? Or summer pruning just fell lower on the priority list in ‘21? I sure do appreciate all you share with us, Mike.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks, I appreciate the nice comment. I actually had both things going on with the lack of summer pruning last year. First, it just got away from me. Second, I thought, well it'll just build more size and strength in the trees overall so no harm done, lol. I guess that's the lazy mans way to look at it.

[@pzavis25]

I want a garden like yours

[@MikeKincaid79]

Just start. Plant your first tree and don't stop planting!

[@pzavis25]

@@MikeKincaid79 sounds easy enough lol thanks

[@MikeKincaid79]

@@pzavis25 That's where I started. It will all take shape as you add too it. Don't wait for the perfect plan, just get started.

[@pzavis25]

@@MikeKincaid79 thanks for the advice

[@lanewaygarden1338]

Great pruning presentation. Possibly you could graft all fruit tree tips together and achieve a living fence? Greetings from Melbourne Australia Harry

[@MikeKincaid79]

I've thought a lot about the living fence idea. I may have to do something like that eventually.

[@Athabina]

Looks good Mike! Should have a heavy crop on those. I have two apple trees in 25 gallon pots which are growing as central leaders, which had no ripe crop last year and two pears in 25 gallon pots on espalier one of which, the Rescue variety, had a good first crop of about 12 fruit which were large and delicious. John in Victoria

[@MikeKincaid79]

That’s a nice crop for growing in pots. Do you have an automatic watering system?

[@Athabina]

@@MikeKincaid79 we used to have a water spigot out there on the gravel rooftop where we grow all these figs and other fruit but no longer so I have to carry the water from my apartment :D

[@at1the1beginning]

Award for 'World's best Dad' goes to

[@MikeKincaid79]

Awe, thanks man!

[@seabuck59]

I live in the PNW and I bought my first espalier trees today (5.24.24) one with three types of Asian pears and one with three types of Honeycrisp apples and I came upon your great video. Love the fact that you are teaching us and your daughter at the same time. Wonderful! One question though. I have seen when others are winter pruning, the area above the trunk is alway's kept clear of all branches, but you leave the most here. Would this just be for more production next year?

[@MikeKincaid79]

I leave them because I like how they look. It's more of an art, and you can really prune these things however you enjoy looking at them.

[@rayngrace]

What's best time in Zone 5B/ Illinois to prune pls? Tree is less than 10 yrs old. Thanks

[@MikeKincaid79]

Heavy pruning for structural changes to the tree should be done during dormancy, in winter. Smaller pruning for fruit production should be done mid summer.

[@robertlennihan3113]

👍👍

[@harrisond8132]

Your dog looks exactly like a dog I used to have. Is he part Siberian Husky? Good timely video since I started pruning my two apple trees over the last two days. Thanks

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks! He’s pure German Shepherd, although we don’t have papers. We didn’t have any intention of breeding him and didn’t want to pay extra for papers. Best, most loyal dog we’ve ever had.

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

Very cool video Mike that one music sound like techno or something I was like techno Mike .

[@MikeKincaid79]

You can see that the video has issues with spaces between some of the clips. I just couldn't get the thing to render correctly no matter what I did. It's also much too bright and not enough color. I'm sure this will all be a big learning curve but I'll get it eventually. I liked the techno with this video. Hopefully it fits and isn't too overbearing.

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

@@MikeKincaid79 it's a good video

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

Something about the music made me think of karate kid. I'm not sure why lol

[@MikeKincaid79]

@@theoverworkedgardener5648 The original? I love that movie. I'll have to listen to the music again and see if I hear what you're hearing.

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

@@MikeKincaid79 I'm probably totally off I haven't watched that movie in forever lol Danielson

[@SylvianeFARMERCHICK]

How much time did it take you to prune everything?

[@MikeKincaid79]

From start to finish it was about 3 hours with a few breaks in between.

[@airford13]

antonovka apple, any insights? trying to get it to a pre-bonsai stage, growing tips?

[@MikeKincaid79]

I like the idea of growing them in ground for a few years to get the trunk fattened up and then potting it up.

[@stevenfrey8034]

Another word for the suckers, you could also call them hitch hikers. 😊

[@MikeKincaid79]

Haha, I'll tell her that one!

[@marschlosser4540]

They look nice enough they should be out front. Espalier is an art! The closer you put the twig to the back of the jaws, the easier it is to cut. One apple tree in the yard, 'mano, a Golden Dorsett, a tree developed in Barbados. It's still alive, having survived the monsoon rains and our terrible arctic winter (hey, it got down to 27F!). If it survives the summer, I'll be overjoyed. It's got 45% suncloth all around it and that should help, and, any leaves that outgrow the shadecloth should be inured to the wind. It's a dwarf, but next early spring (late January) I'll try to root cuttings for a standard. NO PRUNING till next winter. but, it should bloom half the summer; Dorsetts act like an ever bearer. They like the heat, just not the wind. Hope this one acts like a citrus, which ignore our gentle 20 MPH zephyrs at 110F, 4% humidity. If you think that's bad, all the need for the cloth, loquats need far more their fist few summers, up to 70% shade. Hasta con Dios!

[@MikeKincaid79]

Apples in Barbados? Who would have thought.

[@kahvac]

Maybe try to root scion wood. I've heard it can be done but new roots might not be as vigorous as root stock at first.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yep, I've got some thoughts on that.

[@sigridmarble5179]

I have a Macintosh apple tree that has leaned over during the winter , is there any hope in righting this tree and saving it?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yeah, as long as the roots are intact and strong just stand it back up and brace it.

[@yourMARKIE143]

Hi😊❤

[@hellestinebeamon1717]

We have a pear tree and I want to know what month should I start to prune the tree?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Prune for form right now while it’s dormant. Prune the sucker branches in mid summer for fruit spur production.