I train my apple trees like most people do with the branching a few feet off the ground. And yet the old trees I see around that I like are branched from way lower than that. I know it is easier for commercial orchards to set it so they can get under them trees but that’s not really a concern of mine. I’m beginning to question that what I do doesn’t result in what I would like to get.
Here’s one I was looking at today that made me question this. It was relocated Las year which is why it was heavily pruned.
You can do it however you want. Personally, I like to be able to mow underneath my trees, and we also have sheep, and I want them to branch above sheep browse levels, but if you like it low, I don’t see any reason why not…
Ultimately, I think you don’t want fruit to be reaching the ground, and you don’t want whatever is growing under it to be an extra freeway for pests and pathogens to get into the tree.
Assorted critters also like to browse as well, and will do so on much of what they can reach. Apple seems to be a favorite of many - both fruit and wood.
The rest is mostly to serve aesthetics and convenience factors that don’t really matter to the tree itself.
I guess the fact that I don’t have ground critters may be a factor. I also heavily mulch my trees so I don’t need to get the lawnmower right under it. Not like I would be starting the branches that low.
Looking at the example I posted it just looks like a nice shape for a backyard orchard tree.
