Dont have to worry about rodents - none here but a few tree squirrels.Yeah, that definitely needs some tough love. The branches with good angles are darn low, and the ones higher up are guaranteed to split off if left on. As a big fan of glyphosate and scorched earth, I might be tempted to leave the lower ones. Won't be long until the tips of those are up out of deer reach, especially if you cut the ones above back to a single leader.
Keeping the area underneath the trees sprayed not only eliminates the need for mowing, but helps keep rodents at bay and greatly improves growth.
I would be very careful not to get the herbicide on the trunk.Dont have to worry about rodents - none here but a few tree squirrels.
Speaking of gly - do you protect the trunk on these young trees when sprayng?
It could happen that’s the roll of the dice we take any time we prune. Not as likely with apple trees pear trees yes very much more so. I’m sure cultivar, age of tree and time of year that pruning happens all have an effect on sucking also.This is just a question because I don't know anyone's take on it, but if you remove every limb on the tree at once, won't it most likely just sucker like crazy? So you'll still have all those new limbs to remove next year anyway. I guess maybe look at it like you're not starting over, but just a year behind. Cavey has way more experience at this. All I know is when I overprune, I've seen 3 giant suckers emerge where 1 big limb was taken. Perhaps that's still the best route.
Literally, we dont have mice, cotton rats, voles, or rabbits. We do have fireants. Anything up around a tree trunk is an invite for an ant nest. This tree is starting its third year in the ground at my place. I really appreciate the informationThis might sound rough but, Their all on burrowed time if you dont get window screen around the bases, you could paint the south sides of the trunks white and get a taller wider fence and kill the grass out 3 feet in a circle around the tree - then I would worry about pruning. Its not a matter of "if" but when the mice get to those trees, then the deer. You have done a ton of work and have great trees and the frustration your going to feel - because ive been there will kill you.
The best thing you could do to that tree is get tough with it, its a painful lesson but the tree will benefit, I always hate to tell people what to do with their trees because i simply dont always have the time to do it to the numbers of trees I have, but the trees that have done the best are ones I was aggressive with cutting back and pruning at an early age, you can see the lower lateral branches that developed from the nursery, you have not cut the tree back /topped since you planted it and you have all that upward growth with no lateral branches, the trunks are spindly and supporting all that growth with no laterals developing.
Topping will stimulate lateral growth, and strengthen the core trunk for the future.
You can see that once you remove those lower branches and are left with a central leader... (the tree is still young and needs to be trained ... all those branches look great but dont work into the future of that tree - its a feel good thing for you but not so much for the tree. Apple trees take some time - producing apples in 3-5 years as a goal is not good for the tree.) I would cut back to the lower mark, but that is to IMO correct what should have done last year.... I cut back a foot or so of the new growth each year now for the first 3 or so years ... that gradually adds those lower scaffold branches where I want them and gives me a stronger trunk.
Just another handful of suggestions/thoughts for you to kick around.
Where is this fruit tree paradise you speak of?Literally, we dont have mice, cotton rats, voles, or rabbits. We do have fireants. Anything up around a tree trunk is an invite for an ant nest. This tree is starting its third year in the ground at my place. I really appreciate the information
SW Arkansas. Cedar trees by the millions. High pH. Thin topsoil layer. Hot as hades. So far, other than peach trees and pear, has not proven to be fruit tree paradise.Where is this fruit tree paradise you speak of?