Hi Tui, my espaliered Braeburn apple tree has been planted for two years and now has two layers. I had blossom but no fruit. Does it need a pollinator? Also, is it too late to prune the water shoots now we are in May? Thanks. 

Hi Shelley, apples can be pruned in winter as well as summer, make sure wounds are sealed and the cuts are made with sharp tools. It is a good idea to trim water shoots back by approximately one third. Two years is still pretty young for a fruit tree to fruit, you want the roots to become well established so the tree can carry the fruit in years to come. The reasons for trees not fruiting is poor weather at the time of flowering, bees are pollinators of apple trees and don't work in windy or wet weather. Usually a pollinator is not required if there are apple trees or members of the apple tree family in the same vicinity, then a pollinator would be required. Because you are training the tree to form an espalier, you won't really get any fruit until you have finished training the tree and you have it to its desired shape. The Tui Team.