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Fruit & Orchards

pruning espalier apple trees

11 years ago

My apple trees have produced four nice horizontal tiers, but the vertical branches coming off of them are getting big (8-10 inches). Should I start bending those onto the horizontals or should I trim them or weight them down? I don't think I will get fruit on the branches growing vertically straight up? I have no fruit set for this year so it's a matter of next year.

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Comments (2)

steve_in_los_osos
11 years ago
I think you want to tip those now (assuming you have not trained a tip-bearing apple). You need to encourage spur formation and minimize growth coming out in all directions.
fruitmaven_wiz5
11 years ago
Cut them now to about 5 leaves. During your winter pruning, cut back to three buds. This encourages fruit spur formation and lets the tree's form be more visible.
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