[paganjon]

I was daft enough to buy an apple tree by mail order.  What came was a little tree with three good branches on one side and very little on the other.  This year was its second season and it fruited heavily, with all the weight on one side it almost pulled it over.  How should I prune it?  Should I hard prune it on the strong side or will that just encourage it grow even more and how do I get the twigs on the other side to develop into decent branches.  Expert opinion would be much appreciated.

[mumofstig]

This winter, look on the side with no branches - try to find some dormant buds and cut notches (just through the bark) above them. With a bit of luck this should stimulate them into growth.

I'd summer prune the strong branches in the hope of the other side catching up. Summer pruning doesn't encourage more strong growth in the way winter pruning does.

The only other option is to top the tree to encourage more all round growth

[Kleftiwallah]

I've carried out the practise that mum suggested on my cherry shrub and it seems to work.  Could you not manouvre a branch round the trunk to stick out of the other side, while the branches are small and still flexible?

Cheers,   Tony.

[paganjon]

Thanks mumofstig, sounds well worth trying.  Thanks also Tony but I think the branches are too thick to bend to the other side of the tree.

[Growster...]

Is it a miniature rootstock, Paganjon, like an M27 or an M9?

One of these has a distinct slant to one side, and I sunk a post next to the trunk, and firmly straightened the offshoots until they were vertical. I tightened the ties each year to give it time, and not stress the trunk and branch too much.

By then (three or four years or so), it straightened up well,and is now uniform, and still only 7' high, even after 20 years.

[paganjon]

Thanks Growster.  It is on miniature rootstock, I can't remember which one but well worth trying.

[Rampant_Weasel]

watch stephenhayesuk on youtube, over 400 videos on apple trees.eventually you start to understand pruning, which is very daunting when you first start.

[Growster...]

Thanks Growster.  It is on miniature rootstock, I can't remember which one but well worth trying.

No probs, Pagan!

As Rampers says, there are plenty of videos showing how to do it! (Don't google the wrong words though...;0)

[LilacSandy]

Norty step again please Growster 

[Growster...]

Norty step again please Growster 

...sighs...

That's jolly well not fair, Lilacs!

If you Google 'Prune', you come up with a series of 'I'm sorry I'll read that again'!

Hmph...

[Annen]

[quote author=Growster... link=topic=100419.msg1116602#msg1116602

If you Google 'Prune', you come up with a series of 'I'm sorry I'll read that again'!

Hmph...
[/quote]

I used to listen to that all the time in the olden days, Happy memories...
"My name is Angus Prune and this is my tune..."