[Clarky86]

Hi everybody

I believe they are called Watershoots, the spindly vertical new growth that only bears foliage?

My 50yr old bramley tree has been neglected a bit previous to us moving in.

It needs a good tidy up and hopefully although we had too many apples last year to even give away to everybody, i feel the over crowded crown could benefit a prune and thus improve the apple quality also. 

Question, when is best to remove and do i remove them at the lowest visible point where they start?

Ive heard winter for pruning but have seen somewhere that watershoot removal should be a spring time job otherwise if done when dormant the tree will grow like crazy following a good prune.

[mumofstig]

This old thread may help
Apple Tree gone 'mad' in Grow Your Own - Page 1 of 1