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| Hey everyone, the leader of my plum tree was broken and now i am not sure what to do with it. Should i leave it as it is or should i choose one of the branches to be the new leader? Also which one should i choose? Do i just cut the other branch on the same level? Here are a few more pictures: Gordon |
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- Posted by harvestman 6 (My Page) on Sat, Nov 8, 14 at 9:26
| If the cambium is still intact enough to be functional and repair itself you can make a splint with a small, stiff piece of wood or something else. For a tree this small you don't need a stake for the purpose, just use electric tape to attach the splint first below the break and then above it to support the break. You can wrap some tape around the break as well. If the piece doesn't make it, just train something else to replace it using the same general method. Sometimes I use the highest part of the trunk itself to tape a new leader to vertical, sometimes I tape a piece of wood to the trunk but rising above it, sometimes I use a tall enough stake to push into the ground right against the tree, tape it against the tree for more support and then use that to support a leader. Whatever is quickest to fill the requirement at the time. |
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| Am I wrong or does this tree not have the architecture for a very nice OPEN CENTER tree? Mike |
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| Well, what if the OP wants a central leader tree.... |
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| Sometimes we have to make lemonade. Sometimes we hadn't yet realized that lemonade was also available. Mike
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| I would leave it as is, OP. That tree will be wonderfully shaped for easy picking & air circulation. |
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- Posted by harvestman 6 (My Page) on Sun, Nov 9, 14 at 6:59
| It makes no difference that it has a break. Why would you let that determine it's shape for the next 70 years? Open center is where plums are generally eventually going- even upright varieties, but the poster here can still choose exactly where the permanent scaffolds will be and not be so impatient that this injury is the fate of this trees shape. Those two branches are actually excessively vigorous anyway in terms of relative diameter to the trunk, but that is often how low open centers are made (not in my nursery). If the grower wants a low V they might work fine- as long as deer, coons and squirrels are not part of the equation. My point is only that the tree is young and its eventual shape is up to the grower. I like to guide trees to the most practical shape possible and wouldn't surrender or compromise because of a break on such a tiny tree. But I do think that running with the branches below the break is a fine suggestion even if it isn't what I'd do. I live in an area with ample wildlife.
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