pruning
 

Now that that I gotta lil buzz on,
might as well start ANOTHER thread,
.... right?


pruning and dormant oil spraying your backyard orchard

Although I have been doing it for years, I'm no expert.
I suspect that the success requires a lil knowledge,
a lil experience, a lil bit of an artist's eye.
I hope to learn something here.....

dtnwn

Re: pruning
 

Prune more than you think you need too. I like open centers, where light and air can move in the tree centers.

Re: pruning
 

I hear ya brother Andy, good point,
but as you and I know,
there's more to it than
that ................

Re: pruning
 

blink blink

Re: pruning
 

blink blink ?
WTH did I mean by that?
_______________________

Well, I just finished pruning our Late Santa Rosa Plum,
with a keen eye for opening up the center per Andy's advice.

Tried out my new 10 foot orchard ladder for the first
time. Don't know how I ever did without it.
I enjoy pruning per se, but I hate using a pole
pruner for those hundreds of little cuts at the top
of a tree. With the orchard ladder I was able to get
right up in the tree top and use a Felco #11,
snip snip snip snip
like wow,this is FUN!

Did you know the Felco #11 has EASILY replaceable
blades and EASILY replaceable anvils too!!!
I got a Felco #13 last year, ... great, don't have to switch
to lopers so often. So now I wear two pruner holsters,
and hang a Corona bypass loper and a newly made branch
hook on my ladder. Didn't need my Fanno #22 today .......

dtnwn

Re: pruning
 

Felco=best.

I have pruned extensively, even bringing back trees. Every tree and variety has a different natural shape. The only thing I can say every time I look at pruning is: how on God's green earth am I going to do this? 100,000 decisions later, I move to the next tree, hoping I have done my best. It's art and cannot be described. The best you can do is look at well-pruned trees and lock the shape into your mind. After that, pictures of before and after that are sometimes provided in books.

Really, it's a personal communication with the tree. Why did you do that? Why put a branch here? What were you seeking? Why are you watershooting so much? Is it fertilizer, grass, tilling? Is it your nature, or did the last pruning fall short somehow? What can I do to help?

Word of caution, today's trees are bred exclusively for fruit, and even commercial types use extensive pruning. They are like owning a fussy thoroughbred that needs training and falls ill all the time. Older varieties can be closer to the wild, and there was some selection based on shape and strength. As they have a more natural, less suckery nature, they can reduce your pruning needs and like other mongrels, be more innately healthy. I feel this should be considered wisely before choosing your variety, and is good to add in a thread on pruning. Once you own the tree, it's too late to go back.

TS

Go back, young man, Go back!

Re: pruning
 

TS-

I can relate to all you say.
Plus you have given me new insights
about trees, especially varieties bred
for high production. I will remember
your comments every time I prune
another tree.

Thanks so much!

namaste'

Re: pruning
 

The best...I like the largest hand shears they make...like mini lopers....fantastic...and so gentle on the plant life...nice clean cuts. DOnt forget to keep your blades sharp and clean ehh.:bear_laugh: