The Best Time and Method for Bending Apple Tree Branches: A Detailed Guide

Apple Tree Branch Bending Time and Methods

Branch bending is an important technical step in apple tree production management, playing a decisive role in developing a good tree shape and solving ventilation and light penetration problems.

1 The importance of branch bending

As an important measure for tree shape transformation, branch bending helps promote the formation of young trees, adjust tree vigor and branch vigor, moderate vigor to promote flowering, improve light exposure, and enhance fruit quality (Figure 1). It is irreplaceable by other pruning techniques in fruit tree training.

Figure 1 Branch bending promotes the formation of young trees

2 Timing of branch bending

Branch bending of apple trees can be carried out in spring, summer, and autumn throughout the year, with the best time being from mid-to-late August to mid-to-late September. During this period, the branches are soft and highly pliable, allowing their direction and angle to be freely changed as needed. In winter, however, branches are too brittle and prone to causing wounds to the tree; bending in spring tends to cause excessive water sprouts on the upper side of branches, consuming tree nutrients, causing tree shape disorder, and affecting flower formation and fruiting. Bending in autumn not only improves light conditions within the tree canopy, benefiting the growth of inner canopy leaves and fruits, but also controls new shoot growth, making the mid-to-lower buds more plump, increasing the germination rate the following year, increasing the number of short branches, coordinating vegetative and reproductive growth of fruiting trees, and renewing aging branch groups. For large branches over 3 years old, bending can be done in mid-to-late May (i.e., during the period of vigorous spring shoot growth) when sap flow is high.

3 Branches suitable for bending

Branch criteria suitable for bending: In medium-density orchards, branches suitable for bending are those with a length of over 1 m and a base diameter of over 1 cm; bending too early should be avoided. Bending too early can easily weaken the tree and form a "small old tree." Branch bending should be based on tree vigor, following the principle of "three bend, three don't bend": bend upright branches, not lateral horizontal branches; bend long branches, not short branches; bend thick vigorous branches, not thin weak branches. For large main branches, both the main branch and the lateral branches on the same main branch should be bent, with the lateral branch angle greater than the main branch angle.

4 Branch bending methods

Kneading the branch before bending is key. To avoid breaking or snapping the branch, the base of the branch should be loosened first before opening the angle. In orchard management, the method of "one push, two knead, three press, four secure" is generally adopted: hold the branch and push it upward and downward repeatedly to knead it soft. While kneading, press the branch down to the required angle and position. The pressing point should be chosen from the middle of the branch to the top 1/3 of the branch tip. Then tie a bending rope or wire to the branch. The base angle of main branches should be controlled at 80o~90o. For non-skeletal branches, depending on the space available, they can be bent to horizontal or downward-hanging, with the base angle kept at 90o~150°. For perennial, overly thick and large branches whose base angle is too small and difficult to open, the "three saw cuts on the underside" method should be used to open the angle: make 3~5 saw cuts on the outer underside of the branch about 20 cm from the trunk, spaced 2~3 cm apart, reaching 1/3 of the branch diameter in depth, smooth the cut surfaces, then press down and secure. The saw cuts must be tightly closed and smooth to promote wound healing. All bent branches should be arranged evenly and reasonably, with upper and lower branches staggered in gaps, well-proportioned in a wave-like pattern (Figure 2).

Figure 2 After bending, branches are evenly arranged in a wave-like pattern