Pruning an Apple Tree

[justinphilip]

Recently I planted an apple tree from seed and it has been growing quite well. But I am unaware of how to prune it. It is at least 3 ft tall but it has no branches. It is very top heavy and cannot stand up on its own. Do I need to prune this tree in any way to make it grow outward instead of upward? Thanks.

[MaineDesigner]

You don't need to prune it but you may need to stake it temporarily to keep it upright. Apples do not come true from seed (commercial apples are budded or grafted) so if your tree eventually produces fruit it is extremely unlikely that it will be at all like the apple you planted. Many seed grown apples are "spitters", I.e. the fruit they produce is virtually inedible, but there is also the remote chance you'll produce a great new apple. Apples usually are not self pollinating so if there isn't another tree around that blooms at the same time you may get no fruit.