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Life Expectancy of an Apple Tree
Life Expectancy of an Apple Tree. While the Bramley apple tree has been known to live for 200 years, the average lifespan of the apple tree is closer to 100 years, with between 30 and 40 of those years being fruitful. Crabapple trees live between 30 and 50 years. The longevity of the apple tree is determined by the rootstock, and this also governs...
While the Bramley apple tree has been known to live for 200 years, the average lifespan of the apple tree is closer to 100 years, with between 30 and 40 of those years being fruitful. Crabapple trees live between 30 and 50 years. The longevity of the apple tree is determined by the rootstock, and this also governs how early it bears fruit and its overall size.
Pruning
Apple trees need to be pruned regularly to ensure a longer and more fruitful life. It is best to prune them in winter and to trim away no more than one-fourth of the the crown in any one year. The idea is to ensure that there is sunlight reaching the branches and air circulation in the tree to prohibit the growth of disease, not to send it into shock from overly aggressive cutting.
Varieties
An abundant variety of apples grow throughout North America, with Cortlands, McIntosh, Golden Delicious and Red Delicious being particularly popular. All of these apple trees have generally the same longevity. Apple trees and crabapple trees are in the genus Malus, and only four species, all of them crabapple, are native to North America.
Regeneration
Wild apple trees or cultivated ones found in abandoned orchards or farmyards can be rejuvenated for a longer life with a little judicious pruning and care. Bringing them back to life is generally a three-year process. Remove some of the dead branches and limbs each year, opening up the trees to sunshine and air circulation.
Post Production
Once an apple tree has outlived its period of yielding bountiful harvests of apples each season, it still has many more years of useful living to accomplish. During that time, the tree becomes a home to wildlife as well as serving as a pleasant diversion in the landscape. Old apple trees, with their entwining limbs, often serve as great tree houses as well as sources of shelter and food for wildlife.
