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Stesso

Address Central Leaders and Overcrowding

9:02
11:57
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At 9:02 in

FRUIT TREE PRUNING TIPS

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What happens here

For apple trees, if the goal is an open-center growth habit (easier fruit picking and maximum light), cut back the central leader, leaving about three buds on the stump to encourage new outward growth. Additionally, assess the overall density of the tree. If there are too many branches, especially on young trees, strategically remove some to prevent overcrowding. Aim to leave 4-5 main branches with good crotch angles, ensuring sufficient space between branches. This also involves removing any branches with tight crotch angles, as these are weak points that can break under fruit load.

Goal: On apple trees, consider removing the central leader to encourage an open-center shape, and generally thin out overcrowded branches for better light and air flow.

Tools and materials

  • Corona Bypass Pruners

What they say

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tree to tree to tree let's look at another tree look at how busy this tree is look at how many branches we have here we have a lot of growth in this tree and we don't need that much growth okay so we're gonna take out most of these lololo branches and we're gonna leave probably four or five of the major branches with the right crotch angle starting down low here get a little sniffing going on something you need to think about when you're doing your trees in your orchard is this is your tree and you have artistic freedom to make it grow however you want it to grow so if you wanted to grow out and go where you can do that you can do whatever you want to with your tree but you need to open up all these branches we're gonna have to take some out so we can open it up and promote growth and get the tree to grow the way we want it to grow

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