In the UK, you prune dormant trees—that’s November to March, when the tree is asleep and can’t fight back. Do it in summer and you’ll encourage leafy growth instead of apples, which is like ordering chips and getting a salad.
One shocking fact: if you prune on a frosty day, the cuts can’t heal and your tree might get canker, a disease that sounds like a medieval curse. So pick a mild, dry day—February is ideal, when you’re already miserable about the weather anyway.
