To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] apple tree pruning
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2006 10:04:17 -0800 (PST)
I'd try training these over-sized side branches to the horizontal. Or nearly
so.
The only worry I'd have then is, will this cause these branches to form
blossom buds
on too small a tree?
--- Jason MacArthur <> wrote:
> I have a few dwarf apple trees going into 3rd leaf with lower tier
> branches which are almost equal to the size of the trunk. In fact, the
> trunk narrows significantly above these branches- clearly they are
> draining significant resources from the central leader. Reading
> through the pruning literature there seems to be a great deal of
> conflicting advice on how to deal with a situation like this, from
> "never prune a branch until it's fruited" to "don't bother growing a
> whole side of the tree you will only need to cut out later".
>
> The longer I wait the larger these branches get, so I am wondering
> what to do. Is there any way to significantly slow them down enough to
> allow the trunk to regain dominance? Or should I hack the tree back to
> a whip and start all over?
>
> Thanks and happy growing,
>
> Jason MacArthur
> Marlboro, Vt.
>
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