Pruning and Training Note #1

from the DK books, Pruning & Training 

 

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Breaking Apical Dominance (topmost bud) encourages lateral growth.

 

Genus which includes variable numbers of species. 

Species may be interbred to create hybrids, indicated by the prefix "x". 

Within a species natural variants..and cultivated varieties, or cultivars,

 

verb

gerund or present participle: coppicing

1. cut back (a tree or shrub) to ground level periodically to stimulate growth.

   "the company began to coppice the woodland for conservation purposes"

    

    

verb

gerund or present participle: pollarding

1. cut off the top and branches of (a tree) to encourage new growth at the top.

   "it was the practice of local authorities to pollard these trees on a regular basis"

    

    

verb

gerund or present participle: pleaching

1. entwine or interlace (tree branches) to form a hedge or provide cover for an outdoor walkway.

   "if you wish to pleach your trees, winter is the time"

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Fruit Tree

The main reason I study for prune and training is for apple trees. 

The best apple/pear tree form is Espalier and 2nd is the bush form. 

Espalier / Bush Tree Form

Take away Growth buds to encourage fruit bud..which contains a flower. Flower buds that are more obviously fat and rounded than growth buds. downy bud scales.

 

Pruning Time: Late winter and early spring, March, April for Toronto.  Clean cut..

 

Fruit thinning

Summer pruning: to get more sun can reach ripening fruits