Training and pruning in apple

ANDREW L MYRTHONG

2014-12-126

Training and Pruning in Apple

Introduction

Apple is the most important temperate fruit crop

They can also be a pleasing addition to the landscape

They require an annual training and pruning in order to get an

attractive and productive tree

Proper training and pruning are a valuable part of an effective

pest management

Training and pruning cannot entirely compensate for poor

horticultural factors such as poorly matched scions and

rootstocks

Training

Refers to the development of the structural framework of the trees

This activity is largely confined to the nonbearing years

While some training may be necessary after the tree comes into

production

Objective of the training program is :

To develop a proper framework that effectively displays a large

surface area of the tree canopy to full sunlight and support heavy

crop loads

It is more efficient to develop tree growth with training than to

correct it with pruning

Pruning

It is the removal of a portion of a tree

It is used to correct or maintain the tree

structure

Pruning opens up the canopy and improves

air flow and maximise light penetration

Pruning is most often accomplished during the

winter, commonly referred to as dormant pruning

Training includes summer training and summer

pruning as well as dormant pruning

The goal of tree training is to direct tree growth

and to minimize pruning and removing a portion of

the tree, although dormant pruning is always going

to be needed

Dormant Pruning vs. Summer Pruning

Dormant pruning is an invigorating process

Dormant pruning is limited to cuts that remove dead, diseased

and damaged wood and those that develop the tree’s desired

shape

Summer pruning is limited to removal of upright growing shoots

and vigorously growing current season’s shoot

Dormant pruning should begin as late in the winter as possible to

avoid winter injury

Summer pruning done when the buds start growing after the

vegetative shoots are several inches long

Older trees are pruned first as the younger ones are more prone

to winter injury

Training systems

Two main training systems are:Open centre systemModified central leader system

Modified central leader

Plants are headed back 50-60cm above the ground level

1st year: 2-3 well spaced scaffold limbs are selected

The selected primary scaffolds are headed back to one-fourth to

one-fifth of their growth during summer

Second year dormant pruning: central leader and the 10 scaffolds

are headed back similar to first dormant pruning

More scaffold branches are retained at a vertical distance of 45-

75cm

A total of 5-7 secondary branches per tree usually two on each

primary scaffold are retained

The primary scaffold should have the crotch angle of 450

Open centre system

Also known as vase shaped training system

The center of the tree is kept free of large branches

and various upright growing shoots

Head back the plant 60-70cm above the ground level

Retain 3-4 shoots that will become the primary

scaffold branches

Pinched back all other shoots

These branches should be distributed evenly around

the trunk and spaced several inches apart vertically

Head back the primary scaffolds in late may or early

june to promote secondary branches and side shoots

Remove unwanted branches but leave the lateral

shoot for next year’s fruit production

2-3 secondary branch are allowed per primary

scaffold

Avoid upright as well as flat or horizontal limbs

Head the secondary branches to 60-70 cm to

develop the tertiary branches

Limb positioning

Determines whether the branches will

produce primarily fruit or vegetation

Branches that grow straight up produce more vegetative

growth

Branches that grow straight out are fruitful but with very little

vegetative growth

A crotch angle of 45-600 is preferred

Branches having a wide angle between the limb and the trunk

are more strong that narrow angle crotches

Figures depicting wide crotch angles and narrow crotch angles

Limb positioning techniques

1. Spreading: This technique uses objects such as toothpicks,

clothespin, or short sticks to push branches to a

horizontal position

For very young trees- toothpicks or spring type

clothespin is preferred

For older branches and trees- wooden, metal or

plastic spreaders may be used

Toothpicks and clothespin

Wooden spreaders

2. Tying:

Many techniques and numerous materials can be used to tie

branches

Tie the branch in place using twine, string, fibreglass tape, long

rubber band or other material

Tying can also be used to support weak branches that are unable

to support the weight of the developing fruit

3. Weighting:

Weights are used to pull limbs into place

Any heavy material can serve as weight

The weights maybe varied using smaller or bigger cups or by filling the

cups with different amount of concrete

Position of the limb is adjusted by location of the weight on the limb

Methods of tying Positioning weight on branch

Pruning

Pruning is done mainly during the dormant period

Pruning early in the winter, before maximum hardiness has

developed, greatly increases susceptibility to low temperature

injury

Low-temperature injury at pruning cuts is often the forerunner of

various cankers and wood rot diseases

Sometimes unfavorable weather significantly delays pruning, and

growth starts before it is completed

In orchards with a black rot problem, pruning after growth starts

may increase the spread of this disease

Mid January to February is the best time

Decide how much to prune

Get the right shape

Choose your scaffold branches

Cut off dead wood

Remove suckers

Cut off downward growing branches

Remove criss cross branches

Prune down whorls

Prune the remaining branches

Training for high density planting

Slender spindle typeSpindle bush typeVertical axisDwarf pyramid

Slender spindle type

Several components must be integrated to ensure success

First, the tree must have a permanent support system the

height of the entire tree to promote rapid tree growth and

support the tree with heavy crop loads

A common support is a 10-ft-long piece of conduit or

galvanized pipe

Second, the trees must receive adequate, uniform

moisture during the growing season to maintain tree

growth, and irrigation is highly recommended as an

insurance against drought

Third, all weed competition in the tree row should be

eliminated with herbicides to at least the dripline on each

side of the tree.

This is a modified miniature central leader tree with many more limbs per

tree

The trunk is maintained to height of 8-10ft. Density 2,000 to 5,000

trees/ha. at 3-3.5m x 1-1.5m

Branching begins at approximately 24 to 32 inches above the soil surface

Initially all the laterals are retained to optimise early production

3rd or 5th year onwards branches are thinned out to two permanent whorls

All branches above the 2nd whorl are temporary and renewed after every 2-

4 years

Apple trees trained to a slender spindle system

Spindle bush system

Suitable for medium-to-medium high density planting

with tree height varying from to 2 to 3 meters in height

and spread

Central leader training method is used to develop a cone

shaped tree supported by a post or wire support system

2,000 trees/ha at 2-3m in height and 3-4m x 1-2m apart

First two to three seasons following planting are the

important time for establishing a balanced framework

First permanent scaffold is maintain 45cm above the

ground level

The 4 laterals should be evenly spaced and not more

than 50% of the leader’s diameter

Prevent limbs from developing opposite each other on

the trunk

Pinch out competing shoots emerging just below the

heading cut

Leader dominance is important as weak leader will

reduce the tree canopy

Vertical axis system

The trees are trained in a narrow

pyramidal shape with a dominant

central leader to maximise light

penetration

The leader is trained to grow to

10ft height

Few pruning cuts are made in the

initial three years

Thereafter laterals are

periodically renewed by cutting

into 2 year old or older growth

Trees are supported by a trellis

Four laterals are spread evenly around the leader

If only two laterals are present head them back to the

trunk followed by heading back the leader in order to

promote laterals

When the new central has grown about 18 inches,

remove the shoots near the tip and leave only the

lower branches to serve as primary scaffolds

Maintain pyramidal shape by removing all competing

vigorous shoots

1,000 to 2,500 trees/ha at a spacing of 4-5m x 1-2m

Figure: (A) An ideal tree for planting in a vertical axis system. (B) Branches at a narrow angle to the central axis are removed and the leader is cut back on poorly branched trees at planting

Figure. (A) Limbs are spread in early July of the first growing season to a 60 degree angle from the trunk (B)clothespin used to spread the limbs

Figure: In the dormant season after the third year, prune the lower branches of adjacent trees that have grown together

Figure 6. (A) To limit the height of the tree, the central leader can be bent over and tied to the post, or (B) cut back to a less vigorous lateral branch to form a new leader.

A mature tree that does not have a narrow pyramidal form. The limbs can be cut back to a less vigorous lateral to develop the vertical axis form

Other training techniques

Cordons

Cordon fruit trees are simply trees

grown as a single stem

The fruits are produced on short

laterals immediately off the central

stem

Normally grown at a 45-degree angle

for easy picking

Tie a tall bamboo cane into the wire

supports where each tree's stem will

eventually grow, angling the cane as

appropriate

During summer, sideshoots emerging from the

main stem are cut back to three leaves

Shoots produced from the laterals are cut back to

one leaf

Pruning is often carried out with fruits still on the

tree, and will force the tree to concentrate on

producing flower buds the following spring

Winter pruning when the tree is dormant involves

thinning out congested laterals and cutting out old

ones that are failing to produce fruit

Dwarf pyramid, fans or palmettes

Apple trees trained to a small height(5ft) on wires

Trees can be shaped as a pyramid or triangle,

Fan–usually with two main leaders radiating from a

short trunk with sublaterals

Palmettes - a cross between an espalier and a fan with

a central leader and arms radiating at angles rather

than horizontally–shaped similar to an open palm

These trees require less maintenance

Dwarf pyramid

Palmette

Conclusion

Proper training and pruning of trees is a major component of a

profitable apple orchard operation

Each tree is an individual and should be treated accordingly

Properly trained and pruned trees will yield high-quality fruit

much sooner and live significantly longer

In order to maintain a balance between vegetative growth and

reproductive growth efficient training and pruning is therefore

necessary which will result in “calm trees” that produce heavy

annual crops and requires light annual pruning

Thankyou…