First of all million thanks for what you're doing in this channel, I love the way you explain everything and your energy, keep it going! Thanks again from Mexico!
Really nice presentation. Your trees are lovely! I just planted some bare root trees last night and yes that first cut can be shocking. I look forward to some new growth and I’ll feel better when that happens!
Wonderful instructional video . I love the idea , fruit bearing bush, instead of tree for small backyards. What Pruning shears are you using. Please suggest one. Thanks.
Hi Malini, Thanks for the kind words! Small, compact trees are way better for the average backyard guy like me. No ladders, no millions of fruit I can't keep up with. My main hand pruner is a Felco F-8, which has served me well since I treated myself to them a year ago.
Thank you @@TheBusyGardener . Looking forward to new videos. Please continue whenever time permits. Our gardening zones/interests will vary but the information is ever useful. God Bless.
Good job on the videos. Informative, entertaining and good story telling. Your channel is as good as some of those other 20k+ California gardening sub channels.
Wow Jeff, thanks for the encouragement! I'm having fun inviting people along for the journey, and sharing the tidbits I'm learning. I'm making the kind of videos I personally look for, so I'm glad whenever the content helps someone out.
Just thought I'd make a few comments about central leader versus open center. Some climates are both dry and have reallly strong afternoon sun. You might have more concern about sunscald / sunburn because of lower disease pressure from say a denser canopy that doesn't really get wet or stay wet. I live in SW US... at 7k feet elevation. Open center can be too vulnerable when the trees are young and the bark is relatively thin. So, next time you take a look at your trees, look at the exposed, unshaded bark in the center. Might be worth keeping some small branches to keep it shaded (but still enough airflow in the center if that is your concern). Judging by your citrus trees and painted trunks, I'd say you're probably in AZ or CA :)
Hey NM Nate! I agree that leaving a continually pruned open center can be a problem for sunburn in the hotter climates like you and I live. Winter pruning is where I clear this growth out, but in spring the center begins to fill in and provides shade. On our hottest days, we've seen the foliage burn, and it's crazy to think what that would do to the bark. Whitewashing the trunks and covering the more sensitive trees with shade cloth are a couple other approaches we use to keep things cool.
Hey Cameron, I love the videos, they are so helpful! I’m also in SoCal and your channel inspired me to start growing my own stone fruit this year! Just one quick question: I just bought a May Pride Peach and planted it in the ground a week ago. From what I can tell, it was a bare root tree that the nursery just put in a pot. It was already leafing and had a few blossoms when I planted it. I know you said to cut stone fruit trees to knee height and mine has a long trunk (about 4 feet) with a bunch of smaller branches coming off. Should I prune it to knee height now while it’s already leafing or wait until next year? I don’t want to stress it out but I also noticed it had two branches lower on the trunk that look like they could be good scaffolds. Thanks so much!
This is my first winter with a peach tree. How do you continue to get fruiting wood while pruning to keep a maintained height each year? Do you have to prune shorter so that the limb has space to grow back to the height you want it at? Thanks for the help.
Great question! You won't need to prune shorter in order to get fruiting wood, as you will be pruning different branches each year, which will produce fruiting wood. Remember to aim to keep your tree compact, so you're really emphasizing structure (think bushy) for the next year or two, and make your pruning cuts accordingly. Check out some of my other pruning vids for some more examples. I hope that helps!
No videos yet. It starts branching out whenever the tree is growing, and you train it as it grows with pruning cuts. Fruiting is probably delayed/stunted for a couple seasons, but by the 3rd or 4th year you should be seeing decent fruiting, especially on stone fruit (apples have produced MUCH more slowly for us)
You’ve got a great looking orchard! Looks like you’ll have a lot of fruit this year! I’ve got a lot of the same ones and they’ve been in the ground two years so I’m looking forward to some good production. PS that spice zee is a beast isn’t it?
In a microwave and iPhone world, It's amazing how horticulture slows you down and forces you to wait for the results. It really is rewarding to enjoy the fruit of your labor. The Spice Zee IS an absolute beast. Started flowering this week for us!
@@TheBusyGardener Are you in Socal? Whereabouts more or less? I'm in Norcal Sfbayarea. Are you growing figs in your garden? I've become sort of a fignut and I also grow borderline tropicals/subtropicals. Nice yard btw.
@@gardengainzz9191 Yup, in SoCal, in the foothills of east San Gabriel Valley (about an hour east of Los Angeles). I've got a multi-planting of 3 figs; Black Mission, Janice Kadota, and Panache. They're partly shaded for some of the day, so not growing as vigorously as they would out in the open. What cultivars have you got growing?
I did a video going over all my fig trees. Mostly are in 5gallon containers until I find a spot in the ground. Fig list: Black Madiera, Martinenca Rimada, Panache, Coll de Dame Roja, Coll de dame Noire, Coll de dame Blanca-Negra, Bordissot Blanca-Negra, Black Zadar, Italian 258, Figo Preto, Tauro, and many others! You could research (google or youtube) some of these figs I mentioned and go from there. You could also go on frenchfigfarm.com or Figbid.com and buy trees or fig cuttings (The Ebay of figs). You could check out Figaholics on FB or on Harvey's website Figaholics.com. It will blow your mind and could get addicting (warning) lol. Your climate is PERFECT for figs. Who knows one day you could even sell cuttings from your trees or make air layered fig trees and sell too.
Hello ,is this density pruning suited for clay soils? i lost some cherrys and pears before some made it, cherrys lost 4, tryng again this year, bougth the bigest potted trees but now i am planting a little bit in a mound, but my yars is starting to fill up, i have 20 trees now apples, pears where planted in rows 7' apart semi dwarf types along fence line
Pruning and high density planting shouldn't be impacted by the soil that you plant in. If you're in clay soil, you WILL need to plant them 8-12 inches above the normal soil level, and mound dirt up around it to bring up the soil level. Sometimes creating a raised bed for your trees helps retain the soil.
@@TheBusyGardener Thank i think it rain to much and sofocated them last year, as i plant them in a bowl like most pictures show lol lesson learn now tall mounds i apreciated
Arthur, the beauty of the backyard orchard is that you can make them as compact or as spread out as you want. I have my trees spaced 4’ between trunks and use an open center training. I’m creating a fruit tree hedge row of multiple varieties.
@@ag4ever2010 i have apples apricots, quince and pears 7 ft away in a row in clay soil i am wodering if this close method is good in poor soil or you guys have rich loam, i lost a couple pears and cherry when i srarted so now i am planting on mounds
maria mahr I wouldn’t say I have good soil, in terms of organic content or nutrients. It is on the clayey side. Three years of mulch layering and adding compost tea is helping. They are planted on a gradual slope from back to front so that helps keep them from drowning.
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I love the happy family atmosphere and the fact that you don't try to keep the kids silent or out of the frame.
Thanks! They're part of this too
First of all million thanks for what you're doing in this channel, I love the way you explain everything and your energy, keep it going! Thanks again from Mexico!
Hi Luz! Thanks for chiming in! I love shedding light on this stuff as I'm learning and experiencing it. Glad to hear it's connecting!
Excellent video. Thanks!
Really nice presentation. Your trees are lovely! I just planted some bare root trees last night and yes that first cut can be shocking. I look forward to some new growth and I’ll feel better when that happens!
There is always that time of waiting to see if your trees are going to do great ...or die! 😂 Thankfully, they usually do well
Thank you for your explanations! The best I've seen on youtube so far.
Wow, thanks Chris!
Thanks, from San Juan, Argentina.
You're very welcome from Southern California, Alejandro! :)
Excellent video. Stay busy!
Keep up the good work. Looks great!
Very informative,,,Thanks for the video !!
great job. Very clear explanation. Thank you.
Thanks, Marrisa!
Wonderful instructional video . I love the idea , fruit bearing bush, instead of tree for small backyards. What Pruning shears are you using. Please suggest one. Thanks.
Hi Malini, Thanks for the kind words! Small, compact trees are way better for the average backyard guy like me. No ladders, no millions of fruit I can't keep up with. My main hand pruner is a Felco F-8, which has served me well since I treated myself to them a year ago.
Thank you @@TheBusyGardener . Looking forward to new videos. Please continue whenever time permits. Our gardening zones/interests will vary but the information is ever useful. God Bless.
my plum tree also pruned with this open style
Good job on the videos. Informative, entertaining and good story telling. Your channel is as good as some of those other 20k+ California gardening sub channels.
Wow Jeff, thanks for the encouragement! I'm having fun inviting people along for the journey, and sharing the tidbits I'm learning. I'm making the kind of videos I personally look for, so I'm glad whenever the content helps someone out.
Just thought I'd make a few comments about central leader versus open center. Some climates are both dry and have reallly strong afternoon sun. You might have more concern about sunscald / sunburn because of lower disease pressure from say a denser canopy that doesn't really get wet or stay wet. I live in SW US... at 7k feet elevation. Open center can be too vulnerable when the trees are young and the bark is relatively thin.
So, next time you take a look at your trees, look at the exposed, unshaded bark in the center. Might be worth keeping some small branches to keep it shaded (but still enough airflow in the center if that is your concern). Judging by your citrus trees and painted trunks, I'd say you're probably in AZ or CA :)
A. very good point
Sunburn abig cocern on bark
Hey NM Nate! I agree that leaving a continually pruned open center can be a problem for sunburn in the hotter climates like you and I live. Winter pruning is where I clear this growth out, but in spring the center begins to fill in and provides shade. On our hottest days, we've seen the foliage burn, and it's crazy to think what that would do to the bark. Whitewashing the trunks and covering the more sensitive trees with shade cloth are a couple other approaches we use to keep things cool.
what the trees are white wash with? i am in kansas zone 6B hot summers i think have cherrys plum and apples
Hey Cameron, I love the videos, they are so helpful! I’m also in SoCal and your channel inspired me to start growing my own stone fruit this year! Just one quick question: I just bought a May Pride Peach and planted it in the ground a week ago. From what I can tell, it was a bare root tree that the nursery just put in a pot. It was already leafing and had a few blossoms when I planted it. I know you said to cut stone fruit trees to knee height and mine has a long trunk (about 4 feet) with a bunch of smaller branches coming off. Should I prune it to knee height now while it’s already leafing or wait until next year? I don’t want to stress it out but I also noticed it had two branches lower on the trunk that look like they could be good scaffolds. Thanks so much!
This is my first winter with a peach tree. How do you continue to get fruiting wood while pruning to keep a maintained height each year? Do you have to prune shorter so that the limb has space to grow back to the height you want it at? Thanks for the help.
Great question! You won't need to prune shorter in order to get fruiting wood, as you will be pruning different branches each year, which will produce fruiting wood. Remember to aim to keep your tree compact, so you're really emphasizing structure (think bushy) for the next year or two, and make your pruning cuts accordingly. Check out some of my other pruning vids for some more examples. I hope that helps!
@@TheBusyGardener It does! Thanks for replying.
Any videos of cutting them knee high ? Also, how long after cutting knee high do you get it to branch out like you like it? To Fruit?
No videos yet. It starts branching out whenever the tree is growing, and you train it as it grows with pruning cuts. Fruiting is probably delayed/stunted for a couple seasons, but by the 3rd or 4th year you should be seeing decent fruiting, especially on stone fruit (apples have produced MUCH more slowly for us)
You’ve got a great looking orchard! Looks like you’ll have a lot of fruit this year! I’ve got a lot of the same ones and they’ve been in the ground two years so I’m looking forward to some good production.
PS that spice zee is a beast isn’t it?
In a microwave and iPhone world, It's amazing how horticulture slows you down and forces you to wait for the results. It really is rewarding to enjoy the fruit of your labor. The Spice Zee IS an absolute beast. Started flowering this week for us!
Very helpful. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching 😃
Nice video my friend!
Thanks, friend!
@@TheBusyGardener Are you in Socal? Whereabouts more or less? I'm in Norcal Sfbayarea. Are you growing figs in your garden? I've become sort of a fignut and I also grow borderline tropicals/subtropicals. Nice yard btw.
@@gardengainzz9191 Yup, in SoCal, in the foothills of east San Gabriel Valley (about an hour east of Los Angeles). I've got a multi-planting of 3 figs; Black Mission, Janice Kadota, and Panache. They're partly shaded for some of the day, so not growing as vigorously as they would out in the open. What cultivars have you got growing?
I did a video going over all my fig trees. Mostly are in 5gallon containers until I find a spot in the ground. Fig list: Black Madiera, Martinenca Rimada, Panache, Coll de Dame Roja, Coll de dame Noire, Coll de dame Blanca-Negra, Bordissot Blanca-Negra, Black Zadar, Italian 258, Figo Preto, Tauro, and many others! You could research (google or youtube) some of these figs I mentioned and go from there. You could also go on frenchfigfarm.com or Figbid.com and buy trees or fig cuttings (The Ebay of figs). You could check out Figaholics on FB or on Harvey's website Figaholics.com. It will blow your mind and could get addicting (warning) lol. Your climate is PERFECT for figs. Who knows one day you could even sell cuttings from your trees or make air layered fig trees and sell too.
Hello ,is this density pruning suited for clay soils? i lost some cherrys and pears before some made it, cherrys lost 4, tryng again this year, bougth the bigest potted trees but now i am planting a little bit in a mound, but my yars is starting to fill up, i have 20 trees now apples, pears where planted in rows 7' apart semi dwarf types along fence line
Pruning and high density planting shouldn't be impacted by the soil that you plant in. If you're in clay soil, you WILL need to plant them 8-12 inches above the normal soil level, and mound dirt up around it to bring up the soil level. Sometimes creating a raised bed for your trees helps retain the soil.
@@TheBusyGardener Thank i think it rain to much and sofocated them last year, as i plant them in a bowl like most pictures show lol lesson learn now tall mounds i apreciated
This is a great video. Thanks.
Hi Larry, Thanks for the kind words, and for tuning in!
Ur right we will see in 10 years what happens
Will this work for fig trees too?
+Twisted Ninja Absolutely! I have a 3-in-1 fog planting using these same methods
+Twisted Ninja Yup! I’ve got a 3-in-1 fig planting that’s doing well. Check out my vid on that!
What state are you in?
Hi Gerry, we're in Southern California, about an hour east of Los Angeles
Cut the center leader and now it’s open center. You’re welcome.
Not all heroes wear capes... 😂
Very helpful. Would be nice without the music, IMO. Already enough competing sounds.
Agreed, Heidi! Background music is way toned down on my newer vids. Thanks for watching!
Trees planted to close for open centre
Arthur, the beauty of the backyard orchard is that you can make them as compact or as spread out as you want. I have my trees spaced 4’ between trunks and use an open center training. I’m creating a fruit tree hedge row of multiple varieties.
@@ag4ever2010 i have apples apricots, quince and pears 7 ft away in a row in clay soil i am wodering if this close method is good in poor soil or you guys have rich loam, i lost a couple pears and cherry when i srarted so now i am planting on mounds
maria mahr I wouldn’t say I have good soil, in terms of organic content or nutrients. It is on the clayey side. Three years of mulch layering and adding compost tea is helping. They are planted on a gradual slope from back to front so that helps keep them from drowning.