Gardening and Horticulture - Pruning apple tree

Hi all, have a question about pruning my apple tree. Can I prune it now? It's getting pretty cold out here in Wi. and I want to prune back some of the sucker branches and a slightly large arm. It's about 3 or 4 inches in diameter. We had no apples this year because of the horrid little army worms. But, it should produce next year. Will it hurt for me to prune now? What is the best site on how to prune? I know that there is a direction for cutting the branches so they don't get yucky. Any help would be great. Thanx, Tina.

Hi nvsmom,

Here is a good link from your neck of the woods :)

Here in Western NC it's best to wait until very late Winter or very Early Spring. By waiting until the tree is fully asleep, you can be sure the water oze won't wash away your Tree pruning compound that keeps the bugs & desiese out, and away from the cut areas.

This looks as if it has alot of good information for your area of the US. I found it on a http://www.google.com search ( Pruning Apple Trees ) So much info but this link stood out.
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http://www1.uwex.edu/ces/pubs/pdf/A1959.PDF
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PS: Try spraying with Dipel 2X for Army Worms next season & that will do the trick on them. :)

Marturo

Hi Tina,

Just a little note. Apple wood is good for smoking meats, if you do that. So, save your branches.

Gami