You will then also have more choice as regards what to tie, and you will be able to see which shoots are too strong and will have to be cut out completely. If your young tree is growing very strongly, it is best to do your basic tree formation tying later in the season, in other words, from July to September. Tree training and strength of growthĪnother factor that can be taken into consideration is linked to the strength of growth. In this case, thin plastic ties are the most flexible ties, with little risk of constricting the expanding woody shoots.
#Itrain apple how to#
In my view they are the best value for money and you get a proper explanation how to achieve the best result. We recommend English tapener tying tools. It’s best to search online or in your local hardware shop, and purchase the right tools and tying materials.
Another way of increasing the vigour of a branch is to make a number of small pruning cuts in the branch during winter months – in other words, make cuts in the branch to a depth of about a third of its thickness. You can use a bamboo cane to hold the branch at the desired angle. The more vertical the branch’s direction, the more vigorously it grows. You can adjust vigour by changing the angle of the branch. How to regulate the vigour of branchesĭuring the formation of the basic framework, you may observe that the branch on one side is more vigorous than its partner on the other side. If you do that, then the tree will cooperate, and you will discover just how exciting this job can be.
#Itrain apple full#
So work with the tree when it is full of vigour and young. Making changes to the shape and angles of older branches, is hard work and less likely to be successful. Altering the angles of 2-year-old branches can be done any time later, when it suits you, and when the weather is cooperating. And even if you use the wrong shoot for tree training in those early stages, and you see that it is not producing the results you were expecting, don’t worry, nothing is lost and you can try again.įor the same reasons, you can be most active in your training activities in the months from May all the way through to the end of September. Secondly, it’s worth remembering that when the tree’s shoots are young and less than a year old, they are full of moisture and are therefore very flexible and unlikely to break. This by the way applies to all types of fruit trees. So therefore, make sure that the tree is well watered throughout the growing season, so that it is really growing well, before trying to shape it to your heart’s desire. First and foremost, it is hopeless to try training fruit trees which are not healthy or are struggling due to lack of water during the months of May right through to the end of September. Let’s start by considering the basics of successfully training apple trees.
In addition, the life expectancy of plum and cherry trees is much shorter than that of apple or pear trees. This because of the increased risk of bacterial canker. For example, it is inadvisable to train cherry or plum trees, as cordons, espalier or stepover trees. But we have to remember that not all types of fruit trees are suitable to be trained in shapes that are different to the standard open-centre type of tree. Very often, espalier training is used primarily for decorative purposes. An espalier apple or fan shape enables a tree to be grown in a reduced space, perhaps benefiting from the extra shelter offered by a wall or building. Tree training is a way of shaping fruit trees for various reasons.
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