Winter is upon us. For a while it was almost like the winter that wasn’t, but all that has changed in the last couple of weeks. Colder temperatures, falling snow, and wind chill factors that we haven’t experienced for some time have been the norm. But that’s okay. The winter weather provided a neat backdrop for the project we were about to undertake.
As winter began to set in at the backyard bird feeder, there was a flurry of action. Birds were feeding heavily in anticipation of the change in the weather. And when colder temperatures began to close in, the level of bird seed was depleted rapidly at our feeders.
No doubt the same took place across the state with wildlife taking advantage of available food sources. While there seems to be a good supply of food for wildlife, so far this winter the members of our camp are not going to take any chances. We’re planning to provide more winter food for wildlife.
Our camp owns just over three hundred acres. Within that acreage several food plots are maintained. Those areas will be attended to come spring. But for right now our focus is set on providing an immediate food source for wildlife, primarily for the deer. No, we are not going to fill feeders with corn. What we will be doing is providing a food source for whitetails to meet their immediate needs.
Our acreage in Potter County is like most areas in that on or near the property you’ll find apple trees. In general wild apple trees occur throughout PA and the Northeast. Nearly everywhere you travel you can find an apple tree, and the wild trees provide an excellent source of food for deer, bear and other wildlife.
A single apple tree is capable of producing twenty bushels of apples a year for up to 75 years. Ample sunlight and pruning as well as proper nutrients and water are critical to maintaining good fruit production. However, if let go and not maintained, an apple tree can and will most likely produce apples, but not up to its full potential.
Now is a good time to prune apple trees. The cuttings from the trees provide a great source of winter feed for deer. At the same time a pruned tree will most likely produce more abundantly in the fall.
Pruning apple trees is not difficult. However the work can be challenging. So where do you start?
First, look the tree over and identify and cut out all the dead, dying and diseased wood. In older trees this may require the use of a chain saw, or power pole saw. Removing dead wood will strengthen the tree and help it to ward off disease. Be careful when removing large limbs. Cut the limb off some distance from its base, leaving a short, light stub that will not split from the trunk when you cut it off close to the base.
Remove what are called “suckers” or sprouts emerging from near the base and limbs of the tree. Also remove branches from the interior of the tree. These are the thin whip like branches emerging from the trunk and larger branches. They grow in the interior and heavily shaded part of the tree. These branches only serve to rob nutrients from the productive limbs. Keep in mind that the interior of the tree should be open.
Remove the weaker limbs that parallel another nearby limb. If both limbs appear healthy, remove the one that is rubbing another limb growing toward the center of the tree, or if the limb is growing downward.
Old, neglected trees may need to be trimmed severely. A good rule of thumb is not to remove more than thirty percent of the live wood during the first pruning. Trees that need severe pruning should be revisited the following year to complete the job.
On our property we identified nearly sixty apple trees that need to be pruned. Simply put, we do not have the manpower to trim all the trees in a single year. To keep up with the effort, we have a winter work party and trim as many trees as possible. Then we come back the following year and trim some more.
The upside to our work is that the trimmings provide browse for deer during the winter months when they can use it the most. When fall comes, the vast majority of our apple trees provide fruit.
A winter work weekend is the exception not the rule for most camps. But it is with ours. Besides, it gives us the opportunity to return to camp and reflect on the seasons yet to come.
Learn how to prune apple trees
Interested in learning how to prune apple trees to benefit wildlife? If so, set some time aside to learn from the experts.
The Allegheny Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society will be holding the second in a two part apple tree pruning event.
Bonnie Orr and John Dzemyan will share their years of experience sharing tips and techniques when it comes to pruning wild apple trees. Taking part in this event will leave participants with a solid understanding of how to prune wild apple trees that will benefit wildlife.
The “Habitat Day” is slated for this Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. The meeting is located on SR 146 at Bloomster Hollow Road east of Clermont, McKean Co.
Those attending are asked to email wlhab@windstream.net so enough tools are on site to facilitate this hands on demonstration. Hope to see you there.
Charlie Burchfield is an active member and past president of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, an active member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association, Outdoor Writers Assoc. of America and the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers. Gateway Outdoors e-mail is GWOutdoors@comcast.net
