Little pruning is necessary after the primary scaffolds and modified leader have been developed. Keep all scaffold branches growing about the same rate. An over-vigorous branch tends to shade others and may eventually compete with the leader. Keep all suckers and water sprouts removed. Further pruning is seldom necessary until the tree begins to bear.
Some growers prune dwarf apple trees to the strong central leader system.
Note the four tiers of scaffold limbs. If the bottom pair of limbs point north and south, the second pair should point east and west so as not to be directly above the lower set. The third tier of limbs should be almost over the first tier at the bottom, and the fourth tier above the second. Excessive shading will not occur, because of the distance between tiers. A young apple tree pruned to the modified central leader system.