We have bought a place with an established garden and many fruit trees - some of which are now 10-15 m high.
Most references for pruning start from when you plant it - does anyone know of a good reference for pruning older fruit trees?
Hey Judith, as with any neglected tree you should always wait until the plant is dormant then:-
#1. Remove any old, diseased or dead wood - use a clean and sharp pruning saw to ensure you get a clean cut with no easy access for pests and disease. If in doubt seal the wound with a Pruning and Grafting Sealant which just brushes on and dries.
#2.Remove any lower branches that don't get much, if any, light - they are just a waste of energy for the tree and an obstruction to you. Always cut to just outside the collar e.g. the bulge from the main trunk.
#3. Remove any internal branches that grow inwards or cross (and rub on other) - again they won't bear much leaf or fruit and branches that rub can cause disease to get in.
Bear in mind that renovating neglected fruit trees can be quite a shock if they have been left for many years, so as a rule of thumb do not cut back more than 25% in any one go.
Its always better to renovate a neglected tree in stages over a few years to allow it to regain some vigour in the interim and therefore recover better. It also stops the tree over compensating and producing lots of water shoots which tend to be rather unproductive new growth.
Here's the link to the Wound Dressing product:-
https://www.gardensonline.com.au/Shopping/GardenShop/Show_6364.aspx