Hi all.
We’ve recently moved house and our new garden has a small Bramley (on M9 I think). The previous owners planted it but no other apples and they were unsure as why to its never fruited.
This year (in the next few days) I’m going to attempt to help it along a little by hand.
I have plenty of trees (at our allotment) that are pollinators of Bramleys to steal pollen from. I was wondering if I can just collect flowers from the others trees and then simply waggle the flowers into the Bramley flowers. This will obviously be very quick and easy and my other trees won’t miss the 10 or so flowers from each.
So, is this method a winner or should I stop be lazy, get out a paint brush and bag and do a proper job?
Many Thanks
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If you can cut a branch of apple flowers from another tree, put it in a container with some water and hang the container on one of your flowering Brambley, I consider this method easy.
You can do another container with a different apple flowers to increase your chance. Let the flying insects do the job for you, granted it does not rain a lot like I have here.
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oooooo, that sounds even easier, thanks!
The weather here in the UK is looking nice and dry for the next 2 weeks so fingers crossed.
Thanks again for the quick reply and great advice.
Dave
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Make sure the flowers are about to open or just open for fresh pollen. Those branches should last a while with sufficient water in containers.
If your neighbors ask what crazy things you are doing, tell them friends across the pond gave you the idea 
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It’s going to be the best decorated tree for miles around -bunches of flowers in jam jars on every branch😁.
I grafted Winter Gem onto it a month or so ago and it’s looking like it has taken. I also have a Margil that I bench grafted that’s looking good so hopefully future years will be fine.
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Just wanted to say thanks for the idea.
Fruit set was so good that I’ve thinned about 75%!
Cheers
Dave
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