[boogaloo]

Hi folks

Rather gutted, as I moved house last year and one of the first things I knew I wanted was a few apple trees for the blossom and for their fruits. Semi dwarf, on M26. I recently stumbled upon a blog which said that you should remove all blossom from year old dwarf/semi dwarfs in their first year so that they don't expend energy fruiting as it might exhaust them.

True, or false?

If so, is it enough to remove the dead blossom, or do I really have to pull off all the beautiful flowers? I'm in it for the long haul, so if it's best for the plant then it's not a prob. It just seems harsh on the poor wee fellas! I've also got one that I'm training for espalier. Should I do the same? It's already been brutalised so that it's only got two 'branches' to train.

BTW, I've been trying to find some photos of M26 apple trees at 'maturity' so that I have a sense of how they look (I know the supposed height, but it's still hard to imagine). Anyone have a snap or two of a reasonably estabished M26er? I've got James Grieve and Sunset, for what it's worth.

Grateful thanks for any help!

[mumofstig]

I'd say enjoy the blossom, but remove any fruit that sets 

[boogaloo]

Now that sounds like a comprimise I can live with

[julietmaria]

Are you supposed to do this with pear trees too?  In November I planted a pear tree.  I don't think it is dwarf, it is one of those family trees, which have 3 types of pear growing on one tree.    Sorry to barge in on your question but it set my mind questioning