Central Leader or Open Center Pruning?

[Spiider]

How are you guys all pruning the shapes of your apple trees? Central Leader? Open Center? Other? I like the idea of the open center and having the branches more out than up, but I like the looks of a central leader. I do plan on using some apple's for home use, but the majority for wildlife. I've got Liberty, Enterprise, Galarina, Goldrush, Freedom, Chestnut and Dolgo.

Just looking for opinions. Most of my rootstock is on B.118.

 

[buckvelvet]

I use central leader on all accept this 1 tree I bought when I didn't know what I was doing. I hate this tree, I'm considering ripping it out and giving it to a friend because it just pisses me off looking at it. Its a 4th leaf (oldest tree) Winesap on M111 that is open center.

Central leader is primo for apples in my book I love the way it looks.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Central leader here also. The main purpose is for deer. Because we have bears, I want to grow the trees as tall as possible and get lots of wood on them as quickly as possible. Then if the bears try to climb them - thru staked cages - hopefully if limbs get damaged they will be the lowest ones and the tree will be big enough to rebound and keep growing. Counting on multiple corn plots to keep bears occupied & off apple trees.

I also like the looks of central leader trees. Airflow & sun exposure are good.

 

[roth2000]

Just know that with an open center your branches will still try to grow staight up to create a leader so you have to trim them constantly and keep them at the same general height.

 

[Maya]

[QUOTE="Bowsnbucks, post: 101415, member: 74"


I also like the looks of central leader trees. Airflow & sun exposure are good.[/QUOTE]

...... and much stronger structurally.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

^^^^^^ I guess that lump of gray fatty stuff holding my ears apart absorbed some of the info you apple orchard guys have been sharing. I didn't have the knowledge in my bone marrow !! I'm in debt to the experienced apple guys like Maya, Aero, Greyphase, Stu, TC, Crazy Ed, Sandbur ( crabapples ) - and the nursery folks at Cummins, ACN, and SLN. The only thing I knew before I got started in this apple thing was how to dig a hole !!

 

[sandbur]

^^^^^^ I guess that lump of gray fatty stuff holding my ears apart absorbed some of the info you apple orchard guys have been sharing. I didn't have the knowledge in my bone marrow !! I'm in debt to the experienced apple guys like Maya, Aero, Greyphase, Stu, TC, Crazy Ed, Sandbur ( crabapples ) - and the nursery folks at Cummins, ACN, and SLN. The only thing I knew before I got started in this apple thing was how to dig a hole !!

I've dug lots of holes, but climbing out with a dose of humble pie can be difficult....

 

[buckvelvet]

^^^^^^ I guess that lump of gray fatty stuff holding my ears apart absorbed some of the info you apple orchard guys have been sharing. I didn't have the knowledge in my bone marrow !! I'm in debt to the experienced apple guys like Maya, Aero, Greyphase, Stu, TC, Crazy Ed, Sandbur ( crabapples ) - and the nursery folks at Cummins, ACN, and SLN. The only thing I knew before I got started in this apple thing was how to dig a hole !!

So well said indeed!