How do I stop apple production?

by Adrienne Brown
(Hamilton Ontario Canada)

We have a huge old apple tree in the middle of our backyard. It provides wonderful shade and the structure for two swings, however, mid August it drops tons of small, pockmarked apples which I use for composting. I seem to get a break every third year (no blossoms and then no apples) Is there a way to stop apple production, short of cutting down the tree - which I would never do.
Thanks so much,
Adrienne Brown

Doug says - you have it right, the only way to stop this tree from dropping apples is to cut it down. It's just doing what an apple tree wants to do. :-)

Comments for
How do I stop apple production?

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Jan 26, 2010

stopping fruit from crab apple trees
by: Judy

Yes Doug this is a health issue for me and members of my family. I am 66 years old with COPD and cannot do a lot of heavy work like raking apples and picking them up to discard them. I have a child and grandchild that are allergic to bee stings and the apples when they fall rot on the ground and last year you couldn't even sit on the deck without having bees flying all around you. We do not have the option to cut the trees down as it is forbidden at the camp where I stay in the Summer. I was just giving my opinion on what could be done if needed and have no idea what the rules are for checmcals in Canada. I worked all my life and now that I am retired am trying to relax with the years I have left and do all my other gardening without the sprays. But sometimes it is deemed necessary and is done early in the Spring and just sprayed on the branches to keep the buds from forming so no fruit will grow on them. Sometimes everything cannot be done all organic and other measures have to be taken. I know what chemicals can do but there are times they have to be used for health reasons. If I was younger I wouldn't even think of using them as would have enough strength to rake and pick them up to discard. God bless my friend!

Jan 25, 2010

thinning apple trees
by: Doug

There are indeed chemical sprays that will reduce or eliminate fruit set on fruit trees. But in my world, they're not considered at all organic. And in some countries are not available nor registered for home garden use. For example, here in Ontario, Canada they are NOT available for home use in any way.

So - running down to the local farm store to spray a chemical on your garden to eliminate an inconvenience (not even a health issue) doesn't strike me as good gardening or environmental stewardship.

But I acknowledge there are folks who don't believe in this kind of position and prefer to spray. So yes, there are chemicals you can use but I won't recommend them here.

Jan 23, 2010

apple tree from having fruit
by: Judy

You can buy a spray at a store like Agway and spray it on your fruit trees early in the Spring before they get the buds on them. This will keep them from having fruit. Have the same problem at the camp we stay at in the Spring/Summer and this is what the owner of it told me to do as have four apple trees and draws bees terrible and so much apples to pick up. These are crab apple trees. Hope this helps.

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Doug Green