When should I prune my apple tree?

[chuckeyegg]

It needs cutting back a lot.

Thanks
H xx

we did ours in October/November a couple of years back - no idea if that was the right time or not, but it's survived.

Winter. Usually December, but you'd probably get away with it now.

If you are doing normal, every year pruning, August is a good time. If you're doing major structural, early spring better - but you will need to use wound paint on any significant cuts.

have a look here

Thank you all so much for your replies. I'll get out there early spring with my wound paint.

H xx

Silver leaf disease gets into the tree if you do it when the sap has risen so you must be careful. They need winter pruning, do it soon before any new growth has started.

See here www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1205/applepruning.asp

Do it now!

The earth from the base of the tree acts as a natural 'antibiotic' so smear this on the wounds.
I pruned our tree last week as everything is truly dormant here.
Good luck!

Is that true Gentleotter? I've not heard that before. That's quite interesting.

I thought that fungal spores could lie dormant in soil.