Q: can I delete the old folder

Time Machine does that automatically. You shouldn't do that yourself.

If you need more information on using Time Machine, check out Pondini's Time Machine FAQ.

http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html

it doesn't though. that's why people ask this because the 1tb drives fill up with back ups.

and who needs 4 back ups from the same month 1 year ago and 5 back ups from the 11 months ago?

so can u delete the ones you know you won't need from Finder?

or are they all linked and can it mess up the whole thing?

so can u delete the ones you know you won't need from Finder?

 

or are they all linked and can it mess up the whole thing?

You can, but it is better if you delete them from within the Time Machine Interface.

http://pondini.org/TM/12.html