| Backyard orchard culture is NOT the same as | | | | vigorous new growth. Then two or three times per |
| commercial orchard culture. When planting fruit trees | | | | year, cut back or remove limbs or branches to |
| commercially the goal of a fruit tree orchard is to | | | | accomplish the following: |
| maximize volume of harvest per tree and harvest a | | | | 1. First year:a) At planting time, bare root trees |
| single variety over a short amount of time. | | | | may be topped at fifteen inches to force very low |
| Homeowners, on the other hand, prefer to have as | | | | scaffold limbs, or higher (up to four feet) depending |
| long a harvest time as possible, with the most | | | | on existing side limbs and desired tree form. After |
| varieties possible in their limited space. Commercial | | | | the spring flush of growth, cut the new growth back |
| orchards also are spaced to accommodate tractors | | | | by half (late April/early May). In late summer (late |
| and require the use of 12' picking ladders. | | | | August/mid September) cut the subsequent growth |
| Homeowners can plant much more densely and | | | | back by half.b) When selecting containerized trees in |
| through summer pruning, keep trees to heights | | | | spring or summer, look for well-placed low scaffold |
| harvestable without the use of ladders. | | | | limbs. Cut back new growth by half and then again in |
| Backyard orchard culture is the practice of high | | | | late summer.c) 2/3/4 trees in one hole. At planting |
| density planting of successive ripening varieties using | | | | time, cut back all trees to the same height. Cut back |
| summer pruning to control size of trees. High density | | | | new growth by half in spring again in late summer as |
| can mean planting more than one tree (2,3, or 4) per | | | | above. In the first two years especially, cut back |
| planting hole, planting several trees in a hedgerow, | | | | vigorous varieties as often as necessary. Do not |
| planting multiple grafted trees, planting espaliers or | | | | allow any variety to dominate and shade out others. |
| any combination of these techniques. Planting four | | | | Second year: Pruning is same as first year-cut back |
| varieties in one hole will give you 10-12 weeks of | | | | new growth by half in spring and late summer. For |
| harvest (instead of 2-3 weeks) in the space of a | | | | some vigorous varieties, pruning three times a year |
| single tree. | | | | may bethe easiest way to manage size -spring, early |
| Close (high density) planting also has the benefit of | | | | summer and late summer. |
| restricting trees' vigor which also helps keep their size | | | | 1. Third year: Chose height and don't let the tree |
| under control. Another benefit is better cross | | | | get any taller. Tree height is the decision of the |
| pollination which means better fruit production of | | | | pruner . When there are vigorous shoots above the |
| apples, pears, cherries, and plums. Close planting | | | | chosen height cut them back or remove them. |
| works best when rootstocks of similar vigor are | | | | 2. When pruning, remove any broken limbs and cut |
| planted together. For example, for a four-in-one-hole | | | | back diseased limbs well below any signs of the |
| planting, four trees on Citation would be easier to | | | | disease. |
| maintain than a combination of one on Mazzard, one | | | | 3. The smaller one, two and three year old |
| on Lovell, one on Citation and one on M-27. | | | | branches that bear fruit should have at least 6 inches |
| Small trees yield crops of manageable size and are | | | | of free space all around. This means that where two |
| easier to spray, thin, net and harvest than large | | | | branches begin close together, then grow in the |
| trees. Plus, small trees can be planted more closely | | | | same direction, one hould be removed. When limbs |
| together affording the opportunity for more trees | | | | cross one another, one or both should be cut back |
| and longer harvests. Do not depend on rootstocks to | | | | or removed. |
| control size. Rootstocks are chosen for their soil or | | | | 4. When removing large limbs, first saw part way |
| climate adaptation, their disease or pest resistance or | | | | through the limb on the under side so it won't tear as |
| their tendency to induce early fruit bearing. | | | | it comes off. Don't make the cut flush with the |
| The best way to keep your fruit trees less than 10' | | | | trunk, be sure to leave a collar (a short stub). |
| is by pruning especially summer pruning. Do not let | | | | 5. To develop an espalier, ran or other |
| pruning intimidate you. Summer pruning is most | | | | tow-dimensional form, simply remove everything that |
| effective in controlling size. Reducing the tree's | | | | doesn't grow flat. Selectively thin and train left to |
| canopy in summer reduces the photosynthesis, which | | | | space what's left to space the fruiting wood. |
| reduces the tree's capacity for regrowth. Summer | | | | 6. Don't let pruning decisions inhibit you. There are |
| also reduces the total amount of food energy stored | | | | always multiple acceptable decisions -no two people |
| in the root system in the fall to fuel growth in the | | | | would prune a tree exactly the same. You learn to |
| spring. Winter pruning is effective in maintaining shape | | | | prune by pruning! |
| of tree but stimulates vigorous regrowth. Summer | | | | Two other important influences on tree size are |
| pruning preserves and stimulates development of | | | | irrigation and fertilization practices. Fruit trees should |
| fruiting wood. Summer pruning is actually best done | | | | not be grown with lots of nitrogen and lots of water. |
| when thinning fruit. You can see where the fruit is | | | | Some people grow their fruit trees the same way |
| setting which helps you make better pruning | | | | they do their lawn, then wonder why their trees are |
| decisions. | | | | so big and don't have fruit. High density planting and |
| Pruning Tips for New Fruit Trees: | | | | summer pruning enable you to plant more trees, |
| Pruning is most important in the first three years | | | | setting the stage for a longer harvest season. |
| because this is when the size and shape of tree is | | | | Choose early, mid and late ripening varieties to |
| established. When planting a bare root tree, cut side | | | | maximize your harvest. |
| limbs back by at least two thirds to promote | | | | |