With backyard apricot trees like this one, it’s important to cut any dead wood off the tree and then determine whether the apricots or the shade is the most important benefit of the tree. Because this tree is so old and spread out, John Wilhelm with the Colorado State University Orchard Mesa Research Center recommends treating it more like a shade tree, cutting away branches that are too close to the house and perhaps knocking flowers and young fruit off with a broom so there’s less mess when the apricots ripen.