An Apple a Day!

 The old adage promoting an apple a day for better health seem to be working for Susie, the dogs and I.

This week we hiked down to the  old abandoned  farmstead several times to pick fall apples from the old Macintosh apple tree that has been on the farm for over 40 years.

I love apple season. There are few things better than a good apple eaten out of hand. Whether the flesh is mild and sweet or tart and winey, when you bite into it, a fresh-picked apple will make a crisp cracking sound and you'll get a spurt of juice.  It's

 It's a big old tree that could use a good aggressive pruning.

Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring before the leaves begin to appear. When there are no leaves on the branches, it is easier to see the structure of the tree and what cuts are necessary. By late winter, the tree is fully dormant and less susceptible to injury. Also, it has a chance to form a protective barrier behind the pruning cuts before insect and disease organisms become active.

Up to one-third of the live wood on an apple tree can be removed each year. If a tree has been abandoned for a long time, cut only diseased and damaged branches before removing one-third of the live wood. In a situation where the whole top needs to be cut off, the tree will be highly stressed and may not produce apples for a few years. 

    

But for now it's climb up and monkey around trying to get to the beautiful apples near the top. 

 The ground crew with the apple picker.

Return trip home at sunset.