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Ask a Gardening Question Forum
Lee Burkhill: Award Winning Designer & BBC 1's Garden Rescue Presenters Official Blog
Welcome to the Garden Ninja Gardening Forum! If you have a gardening question that you can't find answers to then ask below to seek help from the Garden Ninja army! Please make your garden questions as specific and detailed as possible so the community can provide comprehensive answers in the online forum below.
Welcome to the ultimate beginner gardening and garden design forum! Where no gardening question is too silly or obvious. This online gardening forum is run by Lee Burkhill, the Garden Ninja from BBC 1’s Garden Rescue and a trusted group of experienced gardeners.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert gardener, it’s a safe place to ask garden-related questions for garden design or planting. If you have a problem in your garden or need help, this is the Garden Forum for you! (See forum rules & moderation policy here)
Posting Rules: This space is open for all garden-related questions. Please be polite, courteous and respectful. If you wouldn’t say it to your mum’s face, then don’t post it here. Please don’t promote, sell, link spam or advertise here. Please don’t ask for ‘cheeky’ full Garden redesigns here. They will be deleted.
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Join the forum below with your gardening questions!
Mini Apple Tree Branch Problem
Hello to everyone from a newbie to patio gardening.
I have a Malus Appletini mini Apple tree, quite well established and mostly growing lovely and straight.
Unfortunately as you can see, one main branch is growing out at nearly 45 degrees. It is quite thick and near the base of the tree. Can this be 'trained' to go straight with the others or should I cut it down?
All help greatly appreciated,
Uploaded files:
Hi Duncan,
What a cute tree!
If I were you I'd cut that lower branch right the way off. It's never going to grow vertically and by removing it you'll focus more effort on the top of the tree. Allowing you to establish the open goblet structure that helps create productive and healthy fruit trees!
Take it right back to the main trunk which will help balance it.
If you need more help with pruning here's my full guide.
Happy gardening!
Lee
Lee Burkhill
Lee Burkhill, known as the Garden Ninja, is an award-winning garden designer and horticulturist with over 30 years of gardening experience and 15 years as a professional garden designer. A qualified RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) professional, Lee specialises in sustainable garden design and practical horticultural advice. He designs and presents on BBC1’s Garden Rescue and in leading gardening publications. Lee combines three decades of hands-on gardening knowledge with professional design qualifications to help gardeners create beautiful, functional outdoor spaces.
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