[Potty Plotty Lotty]

The council planted some fruit trees on our allotment site last winter and I am now trying to get my head around the principles of pruning of apple and pear trees. I've referred to RHS and Ken Muir and was hoping you could clarify I am thinking in the right direction.

The photo shows an unlabelled apple tree (I spotted a single fruit on it so know it's an apple!).

The initial questions are:

1) Does it look about 3 years old?

2) Are the highlighted pink lines (picture 2) the the main branch structure I should be aiming for?

3) Would it be OK to prune in the place marked by the arrow?  I think the leader wasn't sufficiently shortened enough when planted and I will have too many main branches if I leave as is.

I will shorten the branches by around 1/2-1/3 (depending on answer to Q1) to an outward facing bud and think (and maybe ask questions about the laterals!).

[mumofstig]

IMHO - Yes, yes and yes 

[Growing Weather]

Do you know the variety?

[Goosegirl]

That's helpful for me as I've inherited several apple trees that were severely cut back and looked like stumps! They have produced a lot of new growth since May and I plan to do the same as suggested here and will aim to get a goblet shape tree so the air can get into the centre. Thanks.

[Potty Plotty Lotty]

Do you know the variety?

I'm afraid not. It was an unlabelled tree the council planted. 4 out of the 6 were labelled so not too bad I guess!

[Potty Plotty Lotty]

IMHO - Yes, yes and yes 

Thank you for you highly respected opinion 

[jezza]

Hello if it's a tip bearer only prune the crossing diseased branches out to form a wine glass shape if it's a spur heater prune the same out but shorten the leaders by2/3rds if a spur bearer will usually have 2 apples on a short stem next to the trunk, an old  Yorkshire man that pruned our trees said if you couldn't throw a bowler hat through the tree thou hant doun it reeght   jezza

[Growing Weather]

There is a good pruning section here

https://archive.org/details/bookofapple00thomrich/mode/2up