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Post by nhmountains on Feb 13, 2017 6:35:07 GMT -6
It would take 10 minutes to fix it to make it upright.
I'd cut the lowest branch out too that's headed upward. On my hose upper branches where you used clothespins, tie down the outer ends so they don't fight for the leader. .
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Post by smsmith on Feb 13, 2017 7:34:58 GMT -6
I guess my question on the leaner would be, is it growing towards the sun? If so, trying to get it to bend back likely won't work long term.
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Post by Catscratch on Feb 13, 2017 7:42:28 GMT -6
It's bent almost directly towards the east and gets evening shade. Otherwise it's direct sunlight. It was bent when I took it out of the box and hasn't straightened out on it's own.
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Post by smsmith on Feb 13, 2017 7:47:59 GMT -6
Then I'd try the straightening route NH outlined. If it gets sun from the direction you want it to grow, that will only help the process.
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Post by Catscratch on Feb 19, 2017 10:45:28 GMT -6
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Post by smsmith on Feb 19, 2017 11:26:38 GMT -6
They look good to me, if the last tree was mine I'd probably remove the bottom 3 limbs next year (assuming it's on b118 or standard rootstock). I'd remove the third limb from the top with the narrow crotch angle now.
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Post by Catscratch on Feb 19, 2017 14:07:54 GMT -6
They look good to me, if the last tree was mine I'd probably remove the bottom 3 limbs next year (assuming it's on b118 or standard rootstock). I'd remove the third limb from the top with the narrow crotch angle now. Thanks. I grabbed the clippers and went out to cut that one but it's angle is no different than the others. It just looks that way because of the way the picture was taken. That limb is going almost directly away from the camera so it looks goofy. Just a quick question; why would you wait until next yr to prune the bottom three limbs? Is it so that it will have enough leafs for energy this yr, or is there another reason to keep them when you know you'll eventually cut them?
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Post by smsmith on Feb 19, 2017 16:16:45 GMT -6
They look good to me, if the last tree was mine I'd probably remove the bottom 3 limbs next year (assuming it's on b118 or standard rootstock). I'd remove the third limb from the top with the narrow crotch angle now. Just a quick question; why would you wait until next yr to prune the bottom three limbs? Is it so that it will have enough leafs for energy this yr, or is there another reason to keep them when you know you'll eventually cut them? Because you've removed a bunch of wood already. The tree does need limbs and leaves to make food, and I'd expect it to put on some more lateral limbs this year.
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Post by nhmountains on Feb 19, 2017 16:21:47 GMT -6
Stu,
Would you pull the tips of those limbs down more as well this year?
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Post by smsmith on Feb 19, 2017 16:26:55 GMT -6
Stu, Would you pull the tips of those limbs down more as well this year? Not sure, the crotch angles look pretty good for the most part. Once the tree starts setting fruit I think the limbs will respond in becoming more horizontal. If the tree doesn't start blooming by year 4 or 5, then getting the limbs closer to horizontal may help it to begin blooming/fruiting.
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Post by nhmountains on Feb 19, 2017 16:41:28 GMT -6
I thought those tips fighting upward for light might take energy from the central leader growth?
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Post by smsmith on Feb 19, 2017 16:45:28 GMT -6
^^^that's possible
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Post by Catscratch on Feb 19, 2017 16:58:23 GMT -6
Don't know if it helps or not but I have had them in the ground almost two yrs and they both flowered last yr. One of them produced fruit last yr.
Help me understand bending the limbs thing. You tie them down to get a better crotch angle (I did this the last two yrs.). But you only bend them past horizontal for a couple of weeks after the summer solstice to stimulate fruiting. Correct?
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Post by smsmith on Feb 19, 2017 17:04:19 GMT -6
If your trees are blooming, then bending the limbs closer to horizontal (60 degrees is the "recommended" crotch angle I think) isn't something you need to worry much about. The crotch angles look pretty good to me as they are, horizontal limbs produce more fruit than vertical limbs (and fewer leaves)
Bending beyond horizontal is something I've only read about, and I don't know a whole lot about that subject.
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Post by Catscratch on Feb 19, 2017 17:11:52 GMT -6
Bending beyond horizontal is something I've only read about, and I don't know a whole lot about that subject. I was going off of an article that nh had posted about going beyond horizontal. I'll try anything that makes sense to me. I'm certainly not afraid to try something...
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