The early years can shape your tree and the yield of your tree dramatically.
If you are pruning a cider tree for height then you are looking to promote the central leader.
Fruit comes from second and third year growth, not first year, and a much reduced quantity of fruit will come from fourth year or older wood.
With that in mind you can remove up to 25% of fruiting wood in any one year, to achieve a balance of one, two, three and four year wood. This means that in a young tree you can remove the three or four biggest branches every year.
The best time for pruning is from December through to the end of March.
Cider trees - you prune to encourage the central leader to grow tall and straight
Dessert fruit - you want to be able to pick fruit for eating and for juicing by hand so the tree should be on a dwarfing rootstock and you prune the tree for a cascade effect with the fruit streaming down from the central trunk.
Where to cut: always try to cut back to the main trunk where you will see there is scar tissue that forms where the joint with the trunk is. If you cut on the branch side just above the scar tissue it will grow over the cut and seal it off safely and securely. The placing of the cut is vital because if you cut too far away from the trunk the branch will hollow out and die back and you will have long term problems.
Be brave! Least cuts for maximum effect. 25% is a lot of timber, but when you have done it walk away and do not be tempted to return to the tree.
