How to prune apple 'honeycrisp'

Late winter while fully dormant, late February to early March before bud break. Remove dead, diseased, and crossing branches first. Then thin the canopy by cutting inward-growing shoots back to their origin and shortening vigorous upright leaders by one-quarter to maintain a central leader or open-centre form. Rub out any water shoots (epicormic growth) from the trunk in summer.

Annually in winter; summer water-shoot removal as needed. Honeycrisp apple requires annual winter pruning to maintain an open canopy, encourage fruiting spurs, and prevent biennial bearing. Remove crossing, dead, and inward-growing branches. Aim for a balanced, goblet-shaped framework. This cultivar is spur-bearing, so preserve short fruiting spurs while thinning overcrowded growth.

Remove dead, diseased, and crossing branches first. Then thin the canopy by cutting inward-growing shoots back to their origin and shortening vigorous upright leaders by one-quarter to maintain a central leader or open-centre form. Rub out any water shoots (epicormic growth) from the trunk in summer.