Step 6: Diagnosis
Poor pruning
Fruiting spurs had been mistaken for watersprouts and had been pruned off every year. The gardener did not understand the physiology of apple trees and pruned them like a shade tree, or ornamental that blooms from apical buds. Fruiting spurs form along the main branches and will flower only from them, every year. They are short with compact growth and obvious growth rings separated by only a few millimeters. Vegetative branches have long internodes with lenticels, pale, raised pores that allow gas exchange. It was recommended that the gardener stops pruning the trees and allow fruiting spurs to grow back. This may take three years to mature enough to produce flowers.