* Gala apple tree * photo by Suzanne * Late February 2013
Hello dear readers! Here we are dancing into early March with Spring around the corner! I'm here to tell you, it's time to get busy with garden Spring clean up, and, pruning projects. I don't know about you, but just thinking about all that needs to be done, makes my head spin! UGH!!!
*** Well, anyway ***
Why are we here today? We're going to prune my Gala apple tree that my husband Karo planted a few years ago. If you saw my previous post, "A Sweet Gala Tribute", from October 3, 2016, you know that now is the time to prune! According to my research, you should prune these trees in late winter, or very early spring. Well, folks-we've got a little of both going on right now!
note: The featured post on my sidebar is "A Sweet Gala Tribute" if you would like to read it.
*** I'll run through a little history first to bring us up to speed! ***
The first photo above is the little tree in late February of 2013. I believe it was sometime in 2011 or 2012, as Karo was eating a Gala apple, he discovered a tiny root on one of the seeds in the core. He planted the seed in a coffee can at first, then, later we potted it to see if it would continue to grow. Below is this tree in the same pot, just a little over a year later. See how it has grown!
note: The featured post on my sidebar is "A Sweet Gala Tribute" if you would like to read it.
*** I'll run through a little history first to bring us up to speed! ***
The first photo above is the little tree in late February of 2013. I believe it was sometime in 2011 or 2012, as Karo was eating a Gala apple, he discovered a tiny root on one of the seeds in the core. He planted the seed in a coffee can at first, then, later we potted it to see if it would continue to grow. Below is this tree in the same pot, just a little over a year later. See how it has grown!
* Gala apple tree * photo by Suzanne * April 24, 2014
Finally, I am able to convince Karo that it should be planted in the ground!
* photo by Suzanne * April 24, 2014
Karo staked it to an old broomstick handle, or a rake!
Karo staked it to an old broomstick handle, or a rake!
*** Now, look at the tree! *** This is late September 2016
I didn't know if the tree should be pruned or not, so I looked up the care of Gala apple trees, and did come across some suggested pruning tips.
***
a. Suckers
b. Stubs or broken branches
c. downward growing branches
d. rubbing or criss-crossing branches
e. upward or interior branches
f. competing leaders
g. narrow crotches
h. whorls
The above diagram was very helpful to me, I HOPE!!!
Here is my tree after winter's winds and cooler temperatures "ravaged" its appearance! The leaves turn an ugly dried brown, but not all of them will fall off the tree.
It has quite a dead appearance, doesn't it?
* photo by Suzanne * February 28, 2017
* photo February 28, 2017
Here is the Gala after my "butcher", I mean, pruning job! And, you can see the debris on the ground that I took from the tree. Gosh, I hope I didn't mess it up! Well, time will tell.
I noticed some nubs on the branches, and my heart was sinking as I pruned, AAGH! This tree has never blossomed in the Spring, and I have hopes that it will this year. Some of the other trees in the area are already blooming, however, these nubs could be leaf buds. And, it might be a good idea to find some fruit tree nutrition to help boost it along.
The photo is out of focus, but, maybe you can see the nubs I'm speaking of.
I circled one of them.
* photo by Suzanne * February 28, 2017
Have any of you ever pruned an apple tree? We had several established apple trees on a lot of our property in Kansas as I was growing up, but, my parents didn't prune them. They were already producing apples and blossoms when we moved to that residence. I guess I am a bit skeptical, but my fingers are crossed that this pruning will yield more growth, green leaves (again), and possibly some blossoms, followed by apples...one day!
I hope you enjoyed today's juicy program, and if any of you has an apple tree small enough to prune, maybe the tips I mentioned will help you out some. If my tree blossoms or starts exhibiting some leaf growth, I will send a photo and keep you all updated.
In the meantime I will thank:
Blogger
Yahoo Images
weekendgardener.net (for the diagram and pruning tips)
For the cute animations, I am grateful to fg-a.com
All photos of the apple tree were taken by me (property of Suzanne Prickett)
*** Thank you so much for coming by today. Please stop in if you have time, and say hello. I would love to hear from you anytime! ***
"Cling, Swing, Spring, sing,
Swing up into the apple tree."
~T S Eliot
Sending blessings to you all * Be safe * Love and Laugh a lot! ♥
Hi Mom!
