[thestens]

We have recently moved to a house with a veg garden which has been unused for many years. It has 3 big old Apple trees, which this year have had some fruit but mostly small and a bit scabby looking. The biggest fruit is at the top of the trees and pretty unreachable. Is there anything we can do to improve the quality and quantity next year? What would happen if we drastically shortened the trees to make them more accessible? Or should we just plant some new ones 

[Yorkie]

I would try to prune them over 2-3 years (don't do it all at once or you'll probably shock the tree).

You can be relatively assertive with the pruning but leave it until the end of the year.

[solway cropper]

It depends on the actual age of the trees. I have a big old cooker in a similar state to yours: small scabby apples at the top of the tree and not many of them. As far as I can ascertain it's around 60 years old, so nearing the end of its life. It will be coming down this winter to be replaced with two smaller trees which will, hopefully, give me decent crops for years to come.

[Ema]

I would try to revive them, prune off any damage wood this year and open out the middle a bit, next year maybe reduce the height a bit and shape. Remove all the weeds from underneath and give it a good mulch with some well rotted muck this winter.

If you don't see some improvements over the next 3-4 years then chop it down.

Also your local animal shelter will appreciate the branches for the rabbits.