I have a mature Bramley's Seedling apple tree in my garden. It's been there since I moved in four years ago. It fruits well and is well positioned, but the shape is terrible.

I want to know if it's possible to cut it all the way back and start again. I want to achieve a half standard (I'm pretty sure it's on either a semi-vigorous or vigorous rootstock based on the overall height and spread).

The idea is to remove everything back down to a tall stump (well above the rootstock join) and wait for the suckers to grow. Pick the best one as a new centre leader and treat it as if it were a maiden.

Does anyone have any experience of this, either success of failure would be helpful.

Thanks

Simon

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