How to prune vigorous apple trees? These methods you need to master
How to prune vigorous apple trees? Please explain the methods. Vigorous apple trees are mostly young trees up to the early fruiting stage. To moderate tree vigor and promote flowering and fruit set, pruning should be done as follows: 1. Open the angle of the scaffold branches. Use propping, pulling, pressing and other methods to open the angle of the scaffold branches. For perennial and strongly vigorous scaffold branches, the multiple-saw method can be used to force the angle open and moderate tree vigor.
How to prune vigorous apple trees? Please explain the methods
Vigorous apple trees are mostly young trees up to the early fruiting stage. To moderate tree vigor and promote flowering and fruit set, pruning should be done as follows:
1. Open the angle of the scaffold branches. Use propping, pulling, pressing and other methods to open the angle of the scaffold branches. For perennial and strongly vigorous scaffold branches, the multiple-saw method can be used to force the angle open and moderate tree vigor.
2. Cut back to create wounds, moderate the front and encourage the rear. For strong vigorous large branches whose upper parts are growing out while the lower parts are weak or bare, after opening the angle, cut back the vigorous branch tips, thin out the branches on the back, and before sprouting carry out multiple ring cuts on the middle and lower parts to encourage new branch growth. For the weaker replacement head branches, back branches and side branches on the upper part, all are left unpruned. When there are many branches on the back of the main branch, remove the vertical ones and keep the horizontal ones, remove the strong ones and keep the weak ones, and control the retained branches by bending and other methods to moderate tree vigor and promote flower bud formation.
3. Delay pruning. Delay winter pruning until around bud break, the purpose being to disperse nutrients, promote sprouting, weaken tree vigor and moderate growth. Combine this with applying pre-bloom fertilizer and flower bud differentiation fertilizer, and cut some roots appropriately to control tree growth.
4. Strengthen summer pruning. Summer is an indispensable measure for controlling vigorous trees. It mainly involves controlling excessive growth, moderating tree vigor and promoting flower formation during the growing season through measures such as ring cutting and ring girdling of perennial branches.
5. During the growing season, irrigate as little as possible and apply as little nitrogen fertilizer as possible; use formula fertilization, especially the application of calcium, magnesium and potassium fertilizers.
6. When the orchard population density is too high, appropriate thinning should also be carried out to improve tree light exposure and promote flower formation.
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