I couldn't help myself, and cut a quantity of leggy non-bearing sky-reaching branches from my Ashmead (on M111) this afternoon. The HOS calendar/bible says to do this in early August, and I'm not sure the tree even believes it is mid-July, since I'm not sure I believe it and I can read a calendar.
I only cut what I could with a hand pruner and no ladder - maximum of 3/4" diameter, not much higher than 6'.
What is the basis for the recommended pruning date, and what problems am I more likely to have created by doing (some of) it now? I'm about to borrow an 11' orchard ladder to do the huge mass of stuff I couldn't reach - do I really need to wait, or can I shape this tree any time between now and when it starts to go dormant?
mh
I believe in the old adage that you prune "when the loppers are sharp".....i.e., generally, when you feel like it......
To absolutely maximize your "dwarfing" effect and reduce height and reduce strong upright water sprouts, etc, then maybe early August is the maximum time,.....but no biggy.....late July is close enough.
The only real times to not prune is in the Fall when the tree is striving to go into dormancy.....outside of that, in the Pacific Northwest follow your zeal....in my opinion you are just fine doing what you did.....and probably from what you described this time was better than late winter/early Spring. 
[quote="John S":3p3x21cr]Hi Don,
I am curious as to why you believe that Fall into winter is a bad time to prune. I'm always trying to learn new stuff.
Thanks
John S
PDX OR[/quote:3p3x21cr]
To not encourage new growth when there is no longer time to harden off before the real cold of winter, right?
Do you guys get a lot of new growth in Oct-Nov-Dec? I don't.
I can see the reason though. It makes sense. If I needed to prune, I probably still would then because I don't get a million chances with all the pruning to do and so much other stuff to do. I would be much more vigilant to avoid pruning stone fruit in the rain or near it, for example, but the idea makes sense.
John S
PDX OR
In Eastern Washington, the pruners are told to not prune in Autumn because the orchardists do not wish to see the encouragement of new growth on the trees that will then suffer "dieback" if there are sub-freezing December nights.....
In other words, in Eastern Washington, apple and pear trees may be pruned as early as December and cherry and peach trees should be pruned months later.
However, these "rules" are modified for Portland and Seattle areas where the winters are generally always moderate. In general one can prune when one has the desire to do so and not worry about much.
Even then, though, Dr. Rob Norton (formerly of Mt. Vernon Research Station) was heard to say at a meeting I attended this year that the Fall months are not ideal for fruit tree pruning. I can only guess that this has to do with allowing the tree to go gracefully into dormancy without stimulating new growth.....but I doubt this is a critical factor to consider.
By the way, Dr. Norton will be speaking at our Piper Orchard Harvest Festival on Sept. 18th. here in Seattle. He will be talking about cider making and anyone who will be in the Seattle area at that time is welcome to come and meet him, a real true expert......meet amateurs like myself.....and eat all the pies you want with the Seattle Tree Fruit Society.
Last year, he helped to identify apples that were brought to him.....he may not have the collective experience of the working group in the Portland Home Orchard Society for apple ID but he is the best we have here and he is truly a wonderful expert on many other things.
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