permaculture

[Mark <mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

At 08:57 PM 10/6/02 +0200, you wrote:
> I have a walnut tree on my hill.
> I don't know how old the tree is. How can I find out?
> What is the lifespan of walnut tree?

You could take a core out of it, a 2-3 mm round piece extracted from the 
trunk, then you count the rings. Probably not worth the effort IMO.

> I also have an old orchard (old trees, some ten years without pruning and
> quite overgrown in wild blackberries and , but very alive). There are some
> "oldfashioned" apples and pears and I would like to recover them if
> possible.
> How to recover an old fruit tree?
Wait until winter and prune pretty aggressively.  I like to start with a 
chain saw or similar tool and cut the center right out of it (hard to 
explain on paper WO pictures)  Your goal is to get light and air to all 
branches and get most of your apple limbs more less horizontal as these 
will be fruiting.  also take out dead wood and crossing limbs (rubs).  You 
may need to weight down some limbs to get the shape your looking for.  You 
can safely take about 1/3 rd of the wood off.  If you have not pruned 
before it's probably worth your time to prune with someone who has 
experience, it's not rocket science but it does have some tricks and 
technique.  Lastly, don't be afraid to just read up and go for it if it's 
getting late in winter, it grows back after all.

Save some of the wood, great for smoking meat or peppers.



> Any similar experiences?
>  (it is autumn where I live now, in a month or so, quite cold winter.. as a
> reference to what can be done in next month or two)
>
> Thank you
> Jasminka
>
> _______________________________________________
> permaculture mailing list
> permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture

Mark P. Ludwig
Poultry Research Lab
University of Wisconsin -Madison
608-262-1730 WK
608-846-7125 HM