Apple Tree Cutting

[Mooria]

I have an apple tree that seems to have grown a considerable amount the large couple of years! Outwards more than upwards, and therefore requires cutting. Can anyone help on how far I should go cutting it back? Really don't want to kill it! It produces no end of apples (squirrels get most of them)!
Thanks in advance - answer bank peeps!

[wiltsman]

Try this:

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=90

[buildersmate]

You won't kill an apple tree by pruning it and December is a good month to do it. I pruned the trees in my young orchard today.

It's beyond the scope of a short commentary to tell you all about it, but assuming it is relatively immature tree (less than 5 years old), you could safely prune the leading shoots by at least 50% of the growth they put on this year. Prune back to a bud that faces inwards, if the natural habit of the tree is grow outwards and you want to encourage more height.

The objective is to pursuade the tree to grow a framework of branches in a broadly even shape.

There's a bit more to it than that, but that should get you started. You will probably constrain the quantity of apples next year, but it has to be done to avoid a silly shaped tree later.