Another Pruning Question

[SwampCat]

This red fleshed apple tree has been in the ground one year. The fork is about two ft above ground level. Would really like the first whorl 4.5 ft or so above ground level. Should i prune everything to the left side of the long whip since it wants to be central leader anyway. Should I top that whip - if so, how high?

 

[Native Hunter]

Yes, I would prune all of the low stuff on the left side. I would also take off that high limb sticking out to the right of the main trunk. That will leave you with a tall whip. Right now, I wouldn't top the remaining whip. Let it grow another year and reevaluate. You have plenty of time to see what happens after you do the above pruning.

 

[bigboreblr]

The top remove the right y and cut the left Y in half.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

I agree with Native Hunter's recommendation. I also like to have my first branches around 5' and this plan will do that.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Cut the branches off the left side and top the leader at the height you want your 1st scaffold if there will be at least 5 or more nice buds below the heading cut. As the buds break this Spring the top bud will be dominant and you can let that be your new central leader, train the lower buds to be your scaffolds.

 

[KY wild]

Cut the branches off the left side and top the leader at the height you want your 1st scaffold if there will be at least 5 or more nice buds below the heading cut. As the buds break this Spring the top bud will be dominant and you can let that be your new central leader, train the lower buds to be your scaffolds.

Turkey creek that is exactly what I would have done last year but I have been learning maybe I should do something different. This year I was planning to leave central leader long and score above the buds that I want to become scaffold branches. This foreces branches where I want them but leaves the central leader in all its mighty. I bring this up not to disagree with you sir but because I want to learn from you. Would it be better to leave central leader and cut bark above buds or cut off central leader to force scaffold branches. Thanks

 

[Turkey Creek]

Turkey creek that is exactly what I would have done last year but I have been learning maybe I should do something different. This year I was planning to leave central leader long and score above the buds that I want to become scaffold branches. This foreces branches where I want them but leaves the central leader in all its mighty. I bring this up not to disagree with you sir but because I want to learn from you. Would it be better to leave central leader and cut bark above buds or cut off central leader to force scaffold branches. Thanks

You can try scoring above buds. Sometimes it works well, other times not. I know what I described works well for us 95% of the time.

 

[bigboreblr]

The bit of a bow on that leader isnt bad. What hsppens when you got a bow almost starting horizontal then goes up?

They straighten thenselves out some?

 

[Turkey Creek]

The bit of a bow on that leader isnt bad. What hsppens when you got a bow almost starting horizontal then goes up?

They straighten thenselves out some?

It will probably always have a crook in the trunk. While not necessarily attractive I don't think it really impacts the tree structurally.

 

[bigboreblr]

With young trees growing fruit spurs on the trunk, like 2ft to 5ft tall range. Is it bad to prune them off? Never seen it mentioned anywhere in pruning guides.

 

[Mortenson]

If that tree is pruned clean, leaving basically a whip that looks to be at least 8' tall, does that potentially leave too fragile a tree? I'd be worried about that kite. Do you guys loosely tie them up, in a case like that?

 

[Native Hunter]

If that tree is pruned clean, leaving basically a whip that looks to be at least 8' tall, does that potentially leave too fragile a tree? I'd be worried about that kite. Do you guys loosely tie them up, in a case like that?

The only reason I would tie them is if they were in a small cage and I was worried about the tree hitting the side when it was windy. If that's the case, I would either put in a bigger cage or possibly use a piece of coated clothesline to avoid damaging the trunk.

Also, sometimes when I'm starting to train the scaffolding limbs on a young tree, I will tie the limbs down to get them to grow at a better angle from the trunk. I use coated clothesline for that too and a lot of other things in the orchard.

 

[bigboreblr]

Limb training is a very good idea. I had to trim some limbs off because I didnt.

8ft tall whip, I would cut that down by a foot too and nick right above 2 or 3 buds. Like one at 5 another side at 6 and a third betwene the two.

A little summer pruning would prevent those bad limbs. I experiemented with leaving a few alone this past summer to see if it helps root development. Only clean them up in the winter. But, I'd only do that year 1. IF something doesn't look good, remove it when you see it. IF a tree is struggling, I'd leave it alone.