NEED TO CREATE LATERALS

[WTNUT]

I meant to take a photo at the farm and check to variety of tree but forgot both so here it goes without both: I have an apple tree that is an EMLA 111 planted as a bare root in spring of 2011 or 2012. I do not recall the variety. It is probably 13 or 14 feet tall and has a good row of laterals at 5.5 feet. It does not have buds laterals or anything again until. 10 feet. Should I cut the central leader back like you would on a second leaf that put on more than 4 feet of growth as I have seen recommended in other threads?

 

[deepsleep]

Is it getting full sun? What variety and what are your goals for the tree, feeding deer, human consumption?

 

[Lot2Learn]

I hope I don't ruffle any feathers here, but I follow Ben's advice from this post on the dark side: http://www.qdma.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16088 and it works great for me.

 

[jaximus]

you could do as Lot2Learn suggested. that was my first thought. or if you wanted to be adventurous, tbud a crab apple in that empty space for pollen and another variety.

 

[WTNUT]

Deepsleep, It gets full sun it is in a small orchard with about 30 other apple trees. My goal is both deer and consumption - family loves apples and deer get all the leftovers.

lot2learn, I use that technique on trees often but there has to be a sprout or bud (whatever you want to call it). Here there are nine for 5-7 feet.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Thanks for posting L2L. That link to Ben's post answered the question I was wondering about - how to get more lateral branches started. Perfect timing !! I've got some long, bare leaders on 2 & 3 year old trees. I'll do some scoring on them this week. I have lots of clothes pins !!

 

[deepsleep]

That's strange to have 5+ feet of bare trunk on a tree like that in full sun. I have a couple similar to your description but it is entirely from lack of sun/reaching. I'm not an expert, but I would let it go this summer, and if nothing fills in, I would top the tree 2 feet or so above the lowest laterals you plan to keep. I wouldn't do it now, though.

 

[WTNUT]

I dont know how many fruit trees I have now, probably 100 plus and I agree it is strange. I really think it got too much central leader growth it's second year and I should have cut it back to 4 feet of growth. I am at the farm today and will look at it closely today. I may even try to post a picture and measure the space without any laterals.

 

[Lot2Learn]

I think that I'd reluctantly cut the central leader down to 4-6" above where I wanted my next set of laterals.

 

[sandbur]

Here is a success and a failure.

The failure is a result of roundup drift killing a limb and probably the buds on that side of the tree.

 

[WTNUT]

I looked today and it appears as though some buds are starting to peek through. I am going to check it in a couple of weeks before doing anything. I hope it buds and I can score it right above the buds and all will be good. On another note, I am about to start a new thread on a pear problem!