BobBry,
The water sprouts should be taken out, you want good air circulation throughout the branches. 6 - 8 feet tall are pretty established so you will have quite a bit of cutting to be done, but don't take more than 1/3 of the total branches (you might have to leave some for now). Wait until mid-winter before doing any cutting, the January thaw or a warm February day is good.
Also, fruit trees need treatment a few times a year, sprays before bud-break, around flowering time and again later. I'm going to have to go to the books for exact details (old-timers disease is flaring up) of what get sprayed and when. They need a good bit of help to get good yields.
The maintenence and use of sprays are reasons that I cut down my fruit trees. But the fruit tree wood was wonderful in the smoker.
I'll dig up what I can here at home if I can find by books and manuals and I'm not too disttracted by the Lions.
The water sprouts should be taken out, you want good air circulation throughout the branches. 6 - 8 feet tall are pretty established so you will have quite a bit of cutting to be done, but don't take more than 1/3 of the total branches (you might have to leave some for now). Wait until mid-winter before doing any cutting, the January thaw or a warm February day is good.
Also, fruit trees need treatment a few times a year, sprays before bud-break, around flowering time and again later. I'm going to have to go to the books for exact details (old-timers disease is flaring up) of what get sprayed and when. They need a good bit of help to get good yields.
The maintenence and use of sprays are reasons that I cut down my fruit trees. But the fruit tree wood was wonderful in the smoker.
I'll dig up what I can here at home if I can find by books and manuals and I'm not too disttracted by the Lions.