You can shorten these branches by making a slanted cut perpendicular to the nearest fruit spur, where you want the tree branch to end. Cut right above the spur or bud, about a 1/4-inch away from it.

Broken branches and limbs on apple trees can sometimes be repaired. A broken branch that is still partly attached can be reattached with grafting tape, and eventually the tree will mend itself.

A third maintenance stage is one that many trees are likely to be in very soon: full-sized fruit bearing. August is the time of year when many gardeners will add support to the branches of their ...