Pruning has never made sense to me, then enter these videos and Orin Martin. Pruned my apples with confidence and look forward to establishing a small home orchard in the coming years. Thank you Orin!
Glad to help! Below is a link to several dozen more fruit tree care videos. Scroll down to the section called: “Getting Started with Fruit Trees Organically”: agroecology.ucsc.edu/resources/instructional-videos.html
Hi Orin. I can’t tell you how much I love your instruction. I have a question: on the open center tree, why do you head the tips of the leaders to extend growth when they are already doing that?
Hi Larry, heading back a branch will help to thicken and strengthen the branch to that it will be able to support the weight of the fruit. It also stimulate growth extension. If the branch is simply allowed to keep growing, it will tend to get weak and skinny and may start to drop towards the horizontal resulting in loss of growth vigor on that branch. Below is a link to several dozen more fruit tree care videos. Scroll down to the section called: “Getting Started with Fruit Trees Organically”: agroecology.ucsc.edu/resources/instructional-videos.html Don't miss Orin Martin's award winning book, "Fruit Trees for Every Garden: An Organic Approach to Growing Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Citrus, and More". His book won the 2020 American Horticultural Society (AHS) Award, recognizing outstanding gardening literature. You can purchase the book here: www.amazon.com/Fruit-Trees-Every-Garden-Approach/dp/0399580026/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N8Y1MP3KB6DZ&keywords=orin+martin&qid=1650397395&s=books&sprefix=orin+martin%2Cstripbooks%2C522&sr=1-1
I just bought Orins book but 1,5 year too late ... ;-)). In april 2023 I bought many young fruit trees, I assume 2 year old. The plum trees ( 2Russian varieties) I haven't pruned since ..... so I am a full year in delay and they look really odd... I read the best form for stone fruit is an open centre. The plum trees look more like a central leader shape and some primary branches are veeerrry long, hanging a bit toward horizontal, so not 60-75% angle from the horizontal line as I read in the book. Number 1 (Prunus salicina x cerasifera 'Skoroplodnaja')has a trunk with 3,5cm diameter. 2 primary branches at 6 and 10 inch height, both vigourous (40 inch old, 40 inch new growth). They have laterals between 8 and 20 inch long. Than 20 inches of lenght with no branches at all. Between 27 and 32 inch height there are 5 branches, 2 with 0,2 inch diameter, 1 with 0,4 inch and 2 with 0,6 inch diameter. Between each branch a vertical distance of 1 inch and the branches have a length of 20-40 inch. A lot of laterals of 0,4 inch, a few of 20 inch Than again 20 inches no branches at all and then 3 upward shoots of 40 inches length. To form an open centre, what is the best way to proceed? Can I use the 2 vigourous at 6 and 10 inch or that is much too low? Cut just above the upper branch of 32 inch and spread those 5 branches evenlly around the trunk? When do this cut?(now, later in the summer or in winter?) How can I induce more laterals at the old growth of last year? The second tree (Prunus salicina x cerasifera Rose of July) hardly shows any new growth at all. The trunk is full with 0,4-0,8 inch branches with leaves. At 23, 32 and 33 inch height, there are 3 primaries of only 20 inches long, most of which is old growth. And then at the top (70 inches) 5 upward shoots of 20-30 inch length. The upper shoots are the most vigourous ones. In order to create an open centre I can cut the trunk a bit above 33 inch, hoping it creates more laterals next year? And should I do the cut now or late august or winter? Can I cut in the wood of last year to induce more laterals on older wood? I know I have many questions …. but the book doesn't say anything about how to correct the pruning process and I think most of the people first buy and then start (too late) learning how to prune them …. ;-).
Hello, I greatly enjoy your teaching videos. You often are using examples from apple trees, how much does what you teach with respect to pruning apply to other Prunus, e.g., cherries, plums, apricots, pears and peaches? many thanks,
Great to hear the videos are helpful. The stone fruits you mentioned don't grow well in Santa Cruz, CA because we don't get the summer heat needed to ripen the fruit. Sooo...apple and pears do great in Santa Cruz so that's why we focus on the trees. But Orin has done a few videos on peaches and plums. You can find them in this "playlist" of tree care videos: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=9ioGcl7gHgc&list=PLdNOdHei9NV0QjOJDbUTx6wgD-qkiNGah And don't miss Orin Martin's award winning book, "Fruit Trees for Every Garden: An Organic Approach to Growing Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Citrus, and More". His book won the 2020 American Horticultural Society (AHS) Award, recognizing outstanding gardening literature. You can purchase the book here: a.co/d/glwePid
I have questions. #1. What was the book on the desk near the drawings? #2. Can anything be done with an overgrown apple tree. I have moved into a yard in which these neglected fruit trees need help.
The book is "Modern Fruit Science: Orchard and Small Fruit Culture" by Norman Childers. Yes, you can restore an overgrown apple tree to a healthy form and size. The key is to only prune back no more than 1/4 or 1/3 of the tree per year. Prune back the entire tree at once and you'll likely get a mass of wild growth that is hard to shape and control.
No, but prune right away. Yes, you can prune it now. Apple trees should be pruned both winter and late summer. Winter pruning stimulates growth and shapes the over structure of the tree. Summer pruning "fine tunes" the structure and helps to stimulate the growth of fruit buds and fruiting laterals. These two videos will tell you have to do both: Here's a video on winter pruning of apple trees: ua-cam.com/video/p_-f610rFEU/v-deo.html Here's a video on summer pruning: ua-cam.com/video/9ioGcl7gHgc/v-deo.html
Bruce, we live in snow country (British Columbia, Canada) and have both types: some central leader trees, some open center trees, all just a few years old. I can't honestly say I've seen much difference when it comes to snow damage. The only time we had broken branches was one summer when I stupidly neglected to thin the apples: the heavy crop broke them.
Below is a link to several dozen more fruit tree care videos. Lots of questions answered. Scroll down to the section called: “Getting Started with Fruit Trees Organically”: agroecology.ucsc.edu/resources/instructional-videos.html
Best channel on UA-cam.
Thank you kindly. Glad it was helpful.
Pruning has never made sense to me, then enter these videos and Orin Martin. Pruned my apples with confidence and look forward to establishing a small home orchard in the coming years. Thank you Orin!
Glad to help! Below is a link to several dozen more fruit tree care videos. Scroll down to the section called: “Getting Started with Fruit Trees Organically”:
agroecology.ucsc.edu/resources/instructional-videos.html
Here's another good video with Orin on pruning: ua-cam.com/video/p_-f610rFEU/v-deo.html
Great video. Very informative, and a pleasure to watch. Saved to my favorites so I can reference.Thank you for posting.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you so much for putting this info online
Glad it was helpful!
Such an excellent demonstration!
Thanks! Good luck with your trees.
Great video, science-based pruning techniques; great teaching and demo.
Glad it was helpful!
Completely brilliant information. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Orin. I can’t tell you how much I love your instruction. I have a question: on the open center tree, why do you head the tips of the leaders to extend growth when they are already doing that?
By the way, I just bought your book.
Hi Larry, heading back a branch will help to thicken and strengthen the branch to that it will be able to support the weight of the fruit. It also stimulate growth extension. If the branch is simply allowed to keep growing, it will tend to get weak and skinny and may start to drop towards the horizontal resulting in loss of growth vigor on that branch.
Below is a link to several dozen more fruit tree care videos. Scroll down to the section called: “Getting Started with Fruit Trees Organically”:
agroecology.ucsc.edu/resources/instructional-videos.html
Don't miss Orin Martin's award winning book, "Fruit Trees for Every Garden: An Organic Approach to Growing Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Citrus, and More". His book won the 2020 American Horticultural Society (AHS) Award, recognizing outstanding gardening literature. You can purchase the book here: www.amazon.com/Fruit-Trees-Every-Garden-Approach/dp/0399580026/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N8Y1MP3KB6DZ&keywords=orin+martin&qid=1650397395&s=books&sprefix=orin+martin%2Cstripbooks%2C522&sr=1-1
I just bought Orins book but 1,5 year too late ... ;-)).
In april 2023 I bought many young fruit trees, I assume 2 year old. The plum trees ( 2Russian varieties) I haven't pruned since ..... so I am a full year in delay and they look really odd... I read the best form for stone fruit is an open centre. The plum trees look more like a central leader shape and some primary branches are veeerrry long, hanging a bit toward horizontal, so not 60-75% angle from the horizontal line as I read in the book.
Number 1 (Prunus salicina x cerasifera 'Skoroplodnaja')has a trunk with 3,5cm diameter. 2 primary branches at 6 and 10 inch height, both vigourous (40 inch old, 40 inch new growth). They have laterals between 8 and 20 inch long.
Than 20 inches of lenght with no branches at all.
Between 27 and 32 inch height there are 5 branches, 2 with 0,2 inch diameter, 1 with 0,4 inch and 2 with 0,6 inch diameter. Between each branch a vertical distance of 1 inch and the branches have a length of 20-40 inch. A lot of laterals of 0,4 inch, a few of 20 inch
Than again 20 inches no branches at all and then 3 upward shoots of 40 inches length.
To form an open centre, what is the best way to proceed?
Can I use the 2 vigourous at 6 and 10 inch or that is much too low?
Cut just above the upper branch of 32 inch and spread those 5 branches evenlly around the trunk?
When do this cut?(now, later in the summer or in winter?)
How can I induce more laterals at the old growth of last year?
The second tree (Prunus salicina x cerasifera Rose of July) hardly shows any new growth at all. The trunk is full with 0,4-0,8 inch branches with leaves.
At 23, 32 and 33 inch height, there are 3 primaries of only 20 inches long, most of which is old growth. And then at the top (70 inches) 5 upward shoots of 20-30 inch length. The upper shoots are the most vigourous ones.
In order to create an open centre I can cut the trunk a bit above 33 inch, hoping it creates more laterals next year?
And should I do the cut now or late august or winter?
Can I cut in the wood of last year to induce more laterals on older wood?
I know I have many questions …. but the book doesn't say anything about how to correct the pruning process and I think most of the people first buy and then start (too late) learning how to prune them …. ;-).
Hello, I greatly enjoy your teaching videos. You often are using examples from apple trees, how much does what you teach with respect to pruning apply to other Prunus, e.g., cherries, plums, apricots, pears and peaches? many thanks,
Great to hear the videos are helpful. The stone fruits you mentioned don't grow well in Santa Cruz, CA because we don't get the summer heat needed to ripen the fruit. Sooo...apple and pears do great in Santa Cruz so that's why we focus on the trees. But Orin has done a few videos on peaches and plums. You can find them in this "playlist" of tree care videos: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=9ioGcl7gHgc&list=PLdNOdHei9NV0QjOJDbUTx6wgD-qkiNGah
And don't miss Orin Martin's award winning book, "Fruit Trees for Every Garden: An Organic Approach to Growing Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Citrus, and More". His book won the 2020 American Horticultural Society (AHS) Award, recognizing outstanding gardening literature. You can purchase the book here: a.co/d/glwePid
Nice video. Thanks
Glad you liked it!
Great video. I purchased some apple trees online and they are just large whips with no branches. What should be done to encourage branching?
This answer is too late, but prune off about the upper third of your tree, just past a bud. That will stimulate new growth.
I have questions. #1. What was the book on the desk near the drawings? #2. Can anything be done with an overgrown apple tree. I have moved into a yard in which these neglected fruit trees need help.
The book is "Modern Fruit Science: Orchard and Small Fruit Culture" by Norman Childers. Yes, you can restore an overgrown apple tree to a healthy form and size. The key is to only prune back no more than 1/4 or 1/3 of the tree per year. Prune back the entire tree at once and you'll likely get a mass of wild growth that is hard to shape and control.
Dear sir
What are best books for temperate fruits which includes all the issues
Is it too late to prune newly planted trees if they are leafed/budded out?
No, but prune right away. Yes, you can prune it now. Apple trees should be pruned both winter and late summer. Winter pruning stimulates growth and shapes the over structure of the tree. Summer pruning "fine tunes" the structure and helps to stimulate the growth of fruit buds and fruiting laterals. These two videos will tell you have to do both:
Here's a video on winter pruning of apple trees: ua-cam.com/video/p_-f610rFEU/v-deo.html
Here's a video on summer pruning: ua-cam.com/video/9ioGcl7gHgc/v-deo.html
Is the open center more susceptible to snow damage than a modified central leader?
Bruce, we live in snow country (British Columbia, Canada) and have both types: some central leader trees, some open center trees, all just a few years old. I can't honestly say I've seen much difference when it comes to snow damage. The only time we had broken branches was one summer when I stupidly neglected to thin the apples: the heavy crop broke them.
@@paulmaxwell8851 Thanks, Paul. That's encouraging! I'll give both methods a try.
So in the first case, why not open center pruning?
Below is a link to several dozen more fruit tree care videos. Lots of questions answered. Scroll down to the section called: “Getting Started with Fruit Trees Organically”:
agroecology.ucsc.edu/resources/instructional-videos.html