The apple trees in the back of the property are over 100 years old. They have never been pruned, too tall to be sprayed, and are crowded. so we will be pruning them to ensure the trees can survive and live another 100 years hopefully!
The apple trees in the back of the property are over 100 years old. They have never been pruned, too tall to be sprayed, and are crowded. so we will be pruning them to ensure the trees can survive and live another 100 years hopefully!
27 Comments
I’d like to see you plant peanuts as an experiment
This will be me with my pear and apple trees!!! Thank you!
That is dangerous. Please be careful.
And all the cut branches will make a great smoking wood.
Luke im shocked you did that without safety glasses!!
You’re in good company using that pole saw, I sold one to Derek Hough once!
What is the oil mix with sulfer you use? I have a small Orchard im trying to get control of, and I've had nothing but issues with coddling moths.
I have heard to never take. more than 1/3 of a tree back. I killed an orange tree that way. But you saved the healthy wood. It will be interesting to see how this works.
I can't wait to see how this tree turns out! I have a lot of over grown trees on my property and have been wanting to fix them up. This video will help me to accomplish that. Thank you.
My personal thanks to MIgardener team for replacing the garlic chives I've purchased.
The new seeds are growing well now. Thank you so much for your response and sending me the new seeds packages!
– the 1st seeds packages(garlic chives) I've bought didn't sprout. I contacted their customer service and they helped me accordingly.
Thank you Luke for showing me how to handle an old tree! I have one that has been neglected, previous owner wasn't able to care for it anymore. It has a lot of water sprouts on it and I was wondering if I cut them could I graph them to a rootstock and would it grow and produce apples? The tree is an Arkansas Black and after researching this variety I really want to have more and be able to share this variety. We bought our home in 2021 and haven't gotten an apple of it yet…I found out I need to spray with copper, bought some and will be spraying this year.
Do not let your wife see this one she will thump you.
I have an unmanaged apple tree of unknown type and plan on doing the same in hopes of getting a better quality apple. Good choice to give it a try. ~~Neighbor to your Northwest in the 👍of MI
Wow!! I’m impressed!! I’m looking forward to everything
I hope this works, we have an apple tree like this as well, not sure of the variety but the fruit was very diseased when we moved in last June 2025. And lots of broken/damaged branches
get in the habit of locking the saw with that kick lock every time you take a step that way when you trip as its inevitable you cant cut your leg.
Please be safe. Had an interesting morning with tractor today. Need to get better organized with hardware. Be safe out there.
Luke, Corinne and I have been watching you for at least 2 years now. My wife even has ordered quite a few things from you that we are growing here in Pennsylvania
We moved here two and a half years ago and have a very old orchard and have never seen anyone teach us what to do with very very old apple trees. Not only are the apple trees neglected, there are also peaches and pears that are in disarray in A very Old orchard.
We have learned so much from watching you pruning the trees and teaching us so much what we can do to save some of the trees in the short time that we have left on this wonderful planet we want this land to be better than when we arrived by 100% to 200%
We would love to receive signs, because we lined our driveway with apples and we also created a circle of trees that we call the circle of life out on the 5 a field that we purchased.
There was an old variety called Jonathan black that we made some apple jam from it was the best apple jelly I have ever had.
We will continue to keep throwing thumbs up at you and learn so much from you that will help us along the way
Hope we win, have you ever dealt with Mexican bean Beatles.
Bye for now George and Corinne
And that stumble highlights why you should be wearing chaps! Not to mention safety glasses, hearing protection, or a helmet! 😢 Keep safe
Ha, now I know why you're a Gardner and not a arborist Luke😂
Long time listener – 1st time caller Luke. Thank you for your inspiring videos. Did something similar to an old unknown apple planted on an overgrown cow pasture in western PA. I'm excited to start planting out a chesnut orchard/permaculture & hope to top work the old apple tree with some scion wood. If you'd ever like some hardy hybrid chesnut seedlings or seed – please let me know! Over the years you've provided our family with some great, rare heirloom seeds priced modestly. Blessings to you and yours!
Be careful!
I'm looking forward to seeing the Brussel sprouts this year!
Absolutely correct cleaning up your area as you go along. Lots of good firewood and the bigger stuff. I take it down to an inch and a half or so. Make a great kindling.
So glad you didn't cut the whole tree down!
Long time watcher and buyer! I'm really looking forward to see how this tree progresses. Gives me hope for my overgrown apple trees. BTW, next time – please wear a helmet – after losing a family member because they didn't wear a helmet when cutting down trees – it would be a sad thing for your lovely family.
I'd love one of those scions to graft! I'm looking forward to the staple crop harvest (potatoes, onions, carrots, garlic). This is my first year actually trying to grow them the "correct" way. So I'm looking forward to comparing your plants to mine!