How to prune overgrown fruit trees WAY BACK! 

No it didn't hurt them. You can trim a tree any month with an (R) in it, general rule of thumb.

Would love to see an update on these trees to see how they recovered this summer. Thanks for sharing.

As a professional tree tree climber and arborist of 10 years this video really hurts to watch lol that’s not pruning I highly recommend you familiarize yourself with ANSI 300 pruning standards.I also hope people watching this don’t go out in there yard and hack there trees like this thinking its good idea you did nothing but negatively set back that tree for years. all your gonna get now is weakly attached epicormic growth along with lots of decay. cutting off a branch collar like that means no compartmentalization of the wound it will never seal itself now there’s a big difference in reducing a trees crown and indiscriminately chopping it back to nothing. A limb should always be brought back to a lateral atleast 1/3rd the diameter of the limb being removed

when you cut any tree for pruning cut the under side first just a little then cut the top side that keeps the branch from splitting or pilling back

I've done the same thing to some neglected apple trees but left half the branches until the following year and then trimmed it entirely back. The tree seems to grow back better this way.

If you are getting a lot of small fruit then you should trim off or prune off 1/2 of the flowers/buds before they start forming fruit. That way the tree puts all its energy into the remaining fruit. As others have said if you make an under cut on the limbs you will not get the bark tearing like you did.

From my reading, about 20% of the tree pruning works with cutting out damaged or infected limbs. I'm anxious to see how your 'buck horning' works. Totally agree with 'opening the tree up' so it can get sun inside the tree. An undercut is good so the bark doesn't tear is a good rule of thumb,, but you probably already know that. Good luck.

used the same techniques on my trees in Hawaii, guava, lychee, mango, plumeria, dragon fruit. same story as what you did. I was raised in western states orchard country and pruning trees was not explained it was just taught by example. your explanation is really good. I learned some of the whys from your video. In Alaska I don't have to worry about fruit trees. for some reason... Ha

Josh sound accurate advice. We used to grow and harvest Apple, peach, and Bartlett pear trees. Our yields and quality were amazing. We never sprayed with chemicals. Our humming birds, robins, nuthatches, finches, dragonflies, and butterflies loved them.

The apples were small because you didn't thin them out early Spring. Videos show that apple blossoms have 5 ro 6 blooms per cluster. When the apples are just developing you need to leave about 2 apples per cluster. With less apples for the tree to support the apples will be bigger.

I did this to a plum that wasn’t producing and was growing 100% vertical with NO side branches. I shared my pics of a fruit tree page and they all verbally assaulted me lol Whatever… I’m glad I did what I did. It’s now growing a lower canopy with side branches. Maybe it will produce again in the future.

When I re-scaffold a tree like this sometimes I leave one branch alone to act as a nurse branch to help the tree survive the drastic cuts. When the new growth is a few feet long (or ideally a year later) you cut off the limb you left alone when the main cuts were done. Ideally you would cut a third of branches down to chest height each year over 3 years but sometimes it is not possible. Another point worth mentioning is the timing of the cutting. If you cut like this in early spring the tree will probably survive. If you cut like this in July the tree may die due to lack of energy left in the roots to initiate new growth.

Good morning Josh , thank you for sharing. I definitely did not know about the grafted trees depth affecting the hight.

Apples are resilient and will benefit from this thorough pruning. They will need to have the regrowth thinned in the autumn. You should leave a half inch on a spur you cut to encourage the tree to heal over. There are special cells at the base of a limb for this purpose.

Loppers, hand saw and pruning shears are the tools needed for pruning fruit trees

same exact method i use to prune!! Works for me! Great video!

Awesome content as always.Thanks for sharing and taking us along

My 5 year old son heard me watching this and ran over to see, he watched the whole thing with me then looked at me and said "daddy can we get apple trees!?!" Sure buddy, at least I can look back on this video to see how to prune them when the time comes lol. Great work Josh

Great video Josh! I would still be nervous doing it, but understanding the why makes it way easier!

I have prunes thousands of apple trees. The tree you pruned will survive but you won’t get any fruit this year. I would suggest creating a central leader rather than an open vase for apples. You did an excellent job if reviving an old peach tree.

Great video. Shall be doing the same to my trees this Winter! One thing, when cutting a large limb at an angle, why don’t you make a cut on the underside, then top cut down to the undercut, that way when you just cut from the top you won’t get the limb tearing bark of the underside.

OUCH! That first cut with the little baby saw made me cringe. The first cut with the Milwaukee just about killed me! Putting a small undercut in the limb will prevent peeling bark below the cut. Even with a pretty thin limb like the first one that was cut, if there is a lot of weight above the cut, it can bend down and peel fibers back below the cut, damaging the tree. There was quite a split on the first limb when you got around to the back side of it to talk about the vigorous spring growth ahead. Another way to prevent splitting is to tie a rope or strap around the limb just under the cut. Thinning flowers can work to get larger fruit, but not all flowers set fruit all the time; so a better bet would be to wait until fruit starts to set and grow, then thin the smaller fruits off of a cluster until you have just 2 or 3 in a cluster...(1 or 2) on a tree with a lot of clusters. If you bury up past the graft point, your tree will revert to the root stock and no longer be the plum you grafted. Bottom line, you will no longer have what you grafted. True though, the dwarfing properties will be negated.

Hey Josh thank you for the video you and Tony did a good job and thank you for sharing your valuable learning information that took you thirty years to find out so yes I'm going to send this video to my Gmail that way like you said I always have it but I sure never seen no one from them down that much but you know best because you did it all those years woo🤗👍

We used lard mixed with lime to waterproof and protect large cuts!

Apples grow on second year wood. He won’t get apples this year but should flourish the next year. Almost no way around to prune this much. Love your videos

I bought the kebtek when you first showed it several years ago and love that and the stihl mini saw

📍 TIP: Cut from the bottom up about 1/4 the way through, then top down on these branches. Why? Notice the only top down pulls the bark at the bottom and it dangles? The bark is the protection from infection. That peel/tear at the bottom is inviting infection.

I moved to a new house that had an orchard of different fruit trees and some are really tall that I wanted to cut back to an easier maintaining and picking height. So glad I didn’t butcher them like this guy. I’m on yr 1 of what I’m anticipating a 3yr process of cutting them back 1/3 at a time.

I’m so happy to read all of the people whom see more thought and process could have gone into this trim.

Another great information video, I can and will put this information to good use. Thanks Josh Really enjoyed and appreciated !

Thanks. Great video

This “second” episode was informative and a testament to being a great neighbor. Assisting a neighbor is rewarding to your neighbor AND yourself! Being good to others lightens your heart!

Brother, those are Flush-Cuts, please look-up the ANSI A-300 on proper pruning. I am a certified arborist of 34 years.

Looks like an awesome job

Thank you very much. Your knowledge just helped me out. Now if my miss disagrees😂I’ll have her watch your videos 🇺🇸😂✌️

Much thanks! I'll be using these tips on several trees this winter.

11:42 Josh, allways cut under the branch first before cutting on top of the branch to stop it splitting and peeling as it falls, also - cut further out first to remove some weight before coming in for the finish cut.

Josh, after watching and learning from you I want to share with you a program I just watched called “Clarkson’s Farm”. It is hilarious and available on the interweb. He’s that “car” guy we all know and loved. Thought if you had a moment you might want to have a chuckle. Enjoy!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Man, you don't know how bad I lived out in the country with good neighbors like ya'll!

Looks great, we have to do this shortly as well

Mate this have helped me loads, I have just done my apple trees thanks . Moving on to the plums next

In Texas, we let ice storm do the pruning.

Hey, Can you please show an update on these trees? I know you're saying they're growing back but we'd really love to see the visual after seeing such a big chop! ❤ This is one of the most thorough and visual videos on RU-vid on pruning a fruit tree, ESPECIALLY a major prune like this. We would like an update 🙏 please Stony Ridge Farmer & Mr Tony!

Informative video and TY! Question; can I prune my cherry trees like this at this time? They are 50 years old and I can’t reach the cherries. The birds, chipmunks and raccoons get them every year. I would like to be able to harvest but I don’t have a clue on how to keep these critters from robbing me? Advice greatly appreciated!

Never use sealant unless you are pruning very specific species that the risks of using it are outweighed by likelihood of infection post prune. Which is pretty much just oak wilt susceptible oaks, and elms. Sealant slows the "healing" process and is widely discouraged in the tree industry and won't be used by professionals. It certainly isn't harmless to use. Trees are laregly best left to manage wounds on their own. This type of pruning is typical for fruit trees but topping most deciduous trees will kill them or ruin the branching structure.

The Milwaukee cordless air compressor is great as well. If you ever have a flat tire, try the larger 160 psi version.

Hey Josh, Jim from Wentworth. It is time to get your Martin Poles up into the air. They are close. I have all of mine up right now. I have a 106 spaces for mine. I had 85 pair last year, hope to fill up this year.

Hi I have a apple tree that is 3 or 4 times bigger then this one can I cut it down like you did ? Thanks

Great job😊

Awesomeness!!! 💜💜💜🙏🙏🙏

i am speechless, this is the work of an animal. it's literally tree torturing

Arborcide. The rule of thumb with pruning is to remove no more than 1/3 of the branches in one year. Well, at least apple wood is good for the smoker.

this was very informative and detailed pictures helped alot

I have had a few apple and pear trees that I have had for about 6 years some look like a single stick from deer. I once got 2 apples that's it. Do you think I should restart?

Each cut made should have a bud or branch remaining behind the cut to prevent dead stubs. Large diameter cuts are a challenge to heal properly. Annual pruning can avoid this issue. However, there are times where larger cuts are needed to correct previous neglect.

Especially the second episode. His water piping procedure was interesting!

Hard pruning is ok just have to do it the right time of year. Also they make proper stuff to put on the cuts instead of truck coating, good job though. Also remember the 3 cut rule to prevent tearing of bark 💪

Nice set up. Which I use The Phoenix Inverter lithium Charge controller and a solar panel it lasts all day To charge my batteries. happy pruning

I use gray latex paint with a brush to seal large cuts. Gray blends well with bark. Not as harsh chemicals as bed liner, I want as little of the inner wood to dry out as possible. Works on ornamental trees too.

Thanks for the vid, I have approx 400 old pear trees, massive trees smothered with vines, there all alive but the thorn trees and sumak is ridiculous, I inherited my grandpas pace about 15 acres, I'm going to clean all the crap in and around them first, then all the dead and try and bring them back, there about 35 years old

good pruning job!done right!

Thank you Sir! Beautiful video! And it was just what I needed.

I love the alligator chainsaw!! It holds both sides of the branch, msking a straight clean cut without peeling the bark off once it wants to fall. Plus this us why you should be cutting from the underside of the branch! 😉

Step away from the saws, Josh!

great info

This old Tony did a video covering the Kebtek pruner (1" and 1-1/2" models) as a response to the pruner that MIlwaukee just announced.

You just reminded me to prune my apricot tree. lol

Just did a major trim on my plum I planted a few years back. It was getting taller than I wanted and last year, it had so much fruit, one branch broke off. But the main reason was the fungus that had taken off everywhere. The only way to get it off was a major pruning. Now I need to treat it with neem and fungicide this winter to see if I can get it under control. Lots of people say to remove it all together for a more resistant type. I planted two plums and two cherries a few years ago and everyone said it would be years before I got fruit. That wasn't the case. I got lots of fruit. One year was heavy, the next year a bit lighter. I've seen a lot of people saying to not tree the wound after pruning. I didn't treat any of mine. I will see next spring what worked.

Let's see a current picture of the trees. I think these trees were excessively pruned.

love to see a follow up on these tress

Please give us a follow up video this summer on how your pruning worked out for the apple trees.

I have a couple of pear trees that desperately need this operation performed on them. I didn't have the guts to do it. I was afraid it would be too much. I'll go ahead and get that done soon. Thanks. Oh, and I would like to see a follow-up on there recovery, too, in a few months.

Need to make a back cut about quarter way through the limb before cutting it off. Won’t get all that bark peel and branches cracking back

I think you did an awesome job on these trees.

Dude I've been watching a lot of videos and so far this one has helped me a lot. Some simplified explanation and fast forward through the cutting so you can see overall what you're trying to accomplish. Thank you!

Is it best to prune when the plumb tree is just a year or two old? Mine have a lot of limbs.

It’s a shame they haven’t come out with a universal battery that would power all of the battery operated equipment. I have stuck with craftsman. We have a weed wackier, drill, leaf blower and a vacuum that use the same battery. I did that just so I could use the same type of battery in all of them.

You can use roof pitch to seal them also

Thank you so much for the information. My tree definitely needs a huge cut and i had no clue what to do or where to start. Thanks again and God bless 🙏

nice pruning tree my friend

do you have pics/video of the pruned trees one two year later ? great video👍👍

Use old motor oil to treat the wounds. It will keep away bacteria and fungii. If the wounds are still wet let them dry for a while before applying. Does the rubberized coating not seal off the wound to much and promote rotting. It doesn't have any "fungicide" in it.

😂unbelievable

I've been scanning videos since this one. Is there one that shows how these turned out in the summer?

Making your first cut on the bottom of a large limb and then go to the top of the limb to cut all the way through will keep from tearing the bark.

The stihl hatchet also uses bar oil.

Hey great video! When is the best time to cut them back in winter? December of February? Sunny weather? No frost or rain i suppose?

Would love an update!!

Fruit trees are suppose to be pruned every spring early before sap starts major limbs that are removed should have bandaid put on there is a product made specifically for that Once fruit is set and starts to develop especially apples apricot peach and pears prune /plum trees the green fruit is hand thinned breaking up clusters of fruit rule of thumb spacing from thump to little finger for the larger fruits like apple and peach

How will the tree be able to make photosynthesis because it won’t have any leaves? I would be interested in seeing it a year from now.

This is so gnarly😂 confidence is everything right guy?🤣 lol. How do the trees look today? 🤭 I’m guessing there’s no follow up video because they don’t exist anymore 🤣🤣

Could you please tell me when you recorded this video. Example; October, November, December, etc. etc. and what year. My wife and I are having a discussion about this. It is now December 10, 2023 and I believe that the Apple trees should be pruned now or in the next month or two your opinion would matter greatly.

Can you do a follow up video on what the trees look like after a year of growth?

I saw this the other day, but no plum tree in that video. The heavy pruning will help the tree come back and produce apples next year. The apple grows on second year growth and y’all cut off all of that this year. When you prune in the fall/winter leave some of the prongs to allow the blooming next year. Overall, a good video.

Saw the tree and immediately came to the comments 🫣😂

Tree looks good to me.

How did the trees recover last year?!? Did they get to produce any fruit yet or will it probably be this year before they grow apples again?? Thanks

My tree is dead now, thanks for the advice,

Josh, can you go back this spring and give us an update what the tree looks like , how it looks 12 months later.