The profusion of tangled branches on an unpruned apple tree can look confusing to a beginner. Get started by making six basic pruning cuts.

as well as dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees. Open center form: There is no central leader; instead, the tree has an open, vase-like form. This type of pruning works for almond, apricot ...

You'll need to time it right, though, so knowing when to prune apple trees is a must. If pears are on your gardening bucket list but you have a small garden, consider the dwarf pear 'Lilliput'.

Annual pruning will ensure that your trees stay healthy and in good shape ... and any abnormally-shaped shoots on dwarf and prostrate conifers. Patches of dead or brown foliage need to be taken ...