Dwarf apple tree reducing height

yolo1988

Hi all, I have a dwarf apple tree...that is not so dwarf anymore. I'm wanting to reduce the height from around 9ft to 5/6ft to keep it working well in the small space it is in. I've seen lots of videos on pruning...but what about actually reducing the height? How could I go about this? Is it possible to cut the tallest stem and reduce it that way? 

From googling I've also found pollarding as a potential way of reducing...but would this be suitable for an apple tree? 

Also is January a good time? I'm not the most experienced gardener and don't want to ruin the tree. 

It's three years old and I've had two years of lots of fruit even with pruning. 

Thanks! 

fatbelly

January is a good time.

I also have dwarf apples at about 9 feet. Probably the same rootstock.

I've never had a problem collecting fruit as the weight of apples means they hang a bit lower and I am 6 feet tall with long arms!

I would be reluctant to prune them to 6 feet but my guess is they'd survive and grow back to 9 feet

Farway

Now is a good time, winter pruning is for shape, structure which is what you are seeking to achieve.

Just be aware that where you remove a stem / branch, fresh shoots will grow from the cut, but do not let that deter you. These will be trimmed back in the late summer.

Removing the tallest stem is ideal, take it down to say shoulder or even chest height.

Take others down to same or near same height.

New shoots will grow, but you are now into taming & training the blighter. Let them grow over summer, don't be tempted to snip bits off.

Come next late August you can then summer prune, so plenty of time to look that up

By 2026 it will be just as you want it

ArbitraryRandom

I'm new to the idea of tree management, so I've probably been reading a lot of the same resources  

A one of the suggestions that stuck with me is using some electrical tape or paint to mark out which branches you're thinking about taking out before you actually cut (so you can step back and go around the tree checking it still looks balanced/right). Inc looking at where the new buds are so you can encourage more of an open/weeping shape in the new growth depending on what you're going for in that space. 

alicef

Hello

You can pollard apple trees - we have done this on the odd cider apple tree that suffered extensive storm damage - it is quite a drastic approach and then you will have to wait a number of years for fruit.  You can shorten the height, (RHS/youtube is your friend here), but the rootstock ultimately determines height.

twopenny

I'm no expert despite the number of books on the subject.
I've seen trees with the central branch taken out that look pretty. 
I had an excellent gardening neighbour who said any tree can be the size you want if you prune.

One thing to consider is what type it is. Tip fruiting or branch fruiting.
You may loose some fruit in the first year but it's your ultimate goal you need to decide. To get both shape and fruit you may have to make a sacrifice for one year.
But the tree will rest and fruit well the next.