Pruning later this year

[j-bird]

my trees have just started producing fruit this year. I am noticing. The weight of some of the apples is causing the branch to bend considerably. My current thinking is that a good pruning is in order this winter/spring. my concern is if I prune heavily will it set back my apple production since this was my first real year of apples?

 

[Turkey Creek]

Generally that is not a reason to prune. Thin the fruit if the load is too much. Bent branches leads to more fruit buds being set as that branch becomes more geared towards production instead of vegetative.