Cotswolds Garden - FAQs
Frequently asked gardening related questions
Thinning is necessary because apple trees often produce more fruit than they can adequately support. If all fruit is left to mature, the result is typically small, underdeveloped apples. Moreover, overcrowding can increase the risk of diseases due to poor air circulation and limit sunlight exposure, which affects fruit ripening and colour. Excess fruit weight may also stress or break branches. Additionally, trees that aren't thinned are more likely to enter a biennial bearing cycle, where a heavy crop one year leads to a poor or nonexistent crop the next. Thinning ensures a more manageable fruit load, promoting consistent, annual production.
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