Pruning and Caring for Trees

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 1 4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 2 4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 3 4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 4 Pruning Objectives

 To train a plant

 To maintain plant health

 To improve quality of flowers, fruit, foliage and stems

 To control growth

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 5 Two Interrelated Processes

1. Sunlight and carbohydrate physiology

2. Plant hormone physiology (plant growth regulators)

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 6 1. Fruit Trees Require Sunlight !!!

 Leaves require 30- 50%

 Fruit need >70% Fiesta Apple

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 7 Prevent Heavy Shading

 Site selection

 Tree spacing

 Proper limb positioning

 Pruning (dormant & Summer)

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 8 Trees Love Sunshine

Eatable landscape

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 9 Apple Blossom State Flower: Arkansas & Michigan

Sekai-Ichi

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 10 Bees Love Sunshine

Mason Bee on plum

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 11 Everybody Loves The Sun

Summer Bellflower

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 12 Prune For Fruit Quality

 Increase Light

 Better Pollination

 Reduce over cropping

 Disease & pest Control

Frost peach

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 13 “What Makes An Apple Taste Good” (Soluble Solids – Sugars)

 Lower in fruit from over-cropped trees.

 Higher in well thinned crops.

 Higher in fruit taken from sunny parts of tree.

 Higher from trees with healthy foliage. 4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 14

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 15 Anthracnose Canker

“bull’s-eye-rot” (when on fruit) [A fungus]

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 16 Anthracnose Limb Canker

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 17 2. Plant Growth Regulators (Hormones)

 Auxins

 Cytokinins

 Gibberellins

 Ethylene

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 18 Auxins (Produced in vertical growing tips)

 Strong apical dominance  Moves under gravity to roots  Stimulates vertical growth  Restricts lateral shoots  Controlled by pruning and limb bending

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 19 Cytokinins

 Produced in roots

 Important in cell division and growth

 Stimulates growth of laterals after Auxins have been reduced

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 20 Gibberellins

 Produced in seeds and expanding leaves

 Functional in fruit cell expansion & rate of growth

 Can inhibit flower buds and cause bi-annual fruiting

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 21 Ethylene

 Gaseous hormone  Released after injury  Accelerates healing (timing of heavy pruning)

 Used to ripen fruit

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 22 Five Elements of Early Training & Care

1. Select rootstock 2. Variety selection 3. Proper planting 4. Early pruning 5. Limb bending [training]

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 23 1. Rootstock (critical)

 Adaptability to soils  Early fruiting  Help control tree size

 Standard trees are most hardy and vigorous

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 24 2. Variety Selection

 Individual growth habit

 Differing fruit bearing pattern

 Ultimate tree size

 Chill Hours Required

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 25 How Big Will My Tree Grow ?

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 26 Chill Requirement # of hrs. between 32 - 45 degrees F

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 27 Chill Hours temps. < 45 degrees

 Apple 700-1800  E. Plum 800-900

 Apricot 500-600  J. Plum 300-500

 Cherry 700-800  Peach 600-800

 E. Pear 600-800  Persimmon 200-400

 A. Pear 400-500  Kiwi 600-800

 Fig 100-200  Citrus 0

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 28 3. Planting

 Warm sunny site

 Adequate hole

 Tree position in hole

 Watering-in

 Support

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 29 Support Young Tree

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 30 Serpent Tree (Apple trees go walking)

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 31 Eye of the Dragon

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 32 Permanent Support

Permanent Support

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 33 4. Early Pruning

 Light Pruning

 Remove damaged wood

 Remove undesirable wood

 Select strong scaffold limbs

 Good angles and spacing

 Head at 3-4 ft. to stimulate branching as needed

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 34 Notching:

 Remove a piece of bark to produce a limb where needed.

 Notching above a lateral bud in early spring prevents auxin from reaching the lateral bud, resulting in a limb.

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 35 Vase-like Form

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 36 Pyramid Form

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 37 Vase-like Form

Spartan apple

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 38 Limb Pattern

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 39 Four Main Limbs

With vertical separation

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 40 Tight Limb Cluster

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 41 Five Can Get Crowded

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 42 Three are Okay

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 43 Limb Angle

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 44 5. Limb Bending and Positioning

 45-60 degree limb angles (3-5 well spaced)  Apical dominance is reduced  Limb elongation is reduced  Lateral branching is increased  Branches are stiffened  Flower density is increased

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 45 Limb Bending

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 46 Tie-Down

Bowline Knot

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 47 Limb Spreading

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 48 Branch Replacement

2-year old upright shoot tied down to 60 degrees for replacement branch

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 49 Limb Bending

Sometimes a heavy fruit load can be used to lower growing tips

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 50 Good Angles & Spacing

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 51 Narrow Weak Angle

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 52 Advanced Decay

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 53 Weepy Branch

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 54 Types of Pruning Cuts

 Heading

 Thinning

Not safe for pruning

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 55 Definition: Limb v. Branch

 Limb – entire appendage all the way back to the main trunk

 Branch – Intermediate appendages attached to a limb or to other branches.

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 56 1. Heading Cuts

 Control height or Size

 Most invigorating type of cut

 Reduce apical dominance

 Stimulates new shoots

 Stiffens the branches Useful to induce branching at specific points (especially in young trees)

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 57 Heading of Young Tree

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 58 Heading Older Tree

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 59 Tree Too Tall?

PNW 400

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 60 2. Thinning Cuts

 Thin for light penetration, fruit quality and keep bearing wood young.

 A tree maintenance function

 Removes undesired wood  Shorten limbs  Control amount of growth  Directs growth  Reduce total amount of fruiting wood

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 61 Types of Thinning Cuts

 Removal of entire limb to main trunk

 Shorten limb or branch back to a lateral branch or vigorous bud

 Remove strong upright water sprouts or shoots

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 62 PNW 400

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 63 Pollination

Apples are: Genetically diverse

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 64 Parts of a Flower

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 65 Apple Pollination Chart

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 66 Apple Truisms

 Fertilization is necessary to produce seeds. (individually)

 Fruit rarely develop without seeds.

 Most have 5-10 seeds.

 With < 3 seeds, an apple will usually drop.

 Misshapen or lopsided fruit indicate inadequate pollination.

 More seeds = larger the fruit.

 Rain, wind, cool weather can inhibit pollination.

 >55 degree weather okay -- with enough bees.

 Mason Bees will be active sooner than Honey Bees.

 Only 2-8 % of apple blossoms need pollination to set full load of fruit. 4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 67

Apple Blossom

King blossom

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 68 Pear Blossoms

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 69 Plum Flowers

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 70 Thinning Fruit

 Improve size and quality

 Early is better than later  Ultimate fruit size is greater  Promotes fruit bud development for next year  Helps prevent bi-annual fruiting

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 71 Nutrient Sink Interactions

 Vegetative sinks

 Roots, steams, leaves

 Fruit are sinks

Balance vegetative growth and fruit load (pruning & thinning)

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 72 Fruit are Nutrient Sinks

Liberty apple

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 73 When Should I Prune ?

A L W A Y S

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 74 When Should I prune ?

 ANYTIME PRUNING  Remove dead, damaged, diseased  Crowded, weak, low vigor  Interfering, wrong way, and bottom branches.  Unwanted suckers.

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 75 When Should I Prune

 DORMANT PRUNING  Best time for heavy pruning  Clear view without leaves  Just Before bud swell is best  Quicker start for healing  Less overall stress  Greatest growth response  Best for restoration of old trees

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 76 Old Tree Restored

Yellow Transparent

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 77 Happy is He

Homestead apple

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 78 Strong Branches

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 79 Same Apple Tree

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 80 Restored by Heading & Grafting

Top-Worked to

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 81 Bark Grafts on Large Branch Stubs

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 82 Two Restored Apple Trees with Electric Elk Fence Protection

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 83 Restored

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 84 Aggressive Action Required

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 85 Restored King Apple

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 86 Restored Yellow Transparent

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 87 100 Year Old Homestead Apple Tree

(Too fragile to restore)

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 88 Death Defying

Granddad’s old apple

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 89 Restorable ? ? ? ? ? ?

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 90 What Say You ? ? ?

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 91 The Planter

(Elderberry)

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 92 Bad News

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 93 What Now ????

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 94 Stimulated Growth

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 95 Before and After

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 96 EC 1005

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 97 Before and After

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 98 Before Pruning

King apple

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 99 After Pruning

Thinning cuts

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 100 When Should I Prune ?

 SUMMER PRUNING  For reduced growth response  Top removal in small trees  Remove small unwanted shoots  Remove water sprouts when six inches and longer

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 101 When Not Removed

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 102 Getting Started

 You know what you want

 But how to get there??? A. Start with the obvious B. Decide how high C. Remove big wood early D. Wander and ponder E. When is enough???

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 103 Pruning Technique

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 104 Healing Process

Callus growth

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 105 Large Wound

Grafted stump

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 106 Delayed Healing

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 107 Water Hole

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 108 Dental Work

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 109 Large Wounds

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 110 Limb Fractures

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 111 Limb Fracture

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 112 Fracture Repair

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 113 Fracture Repair

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 114 Healing Over

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 115 Complete Blowout

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 116 Preventing Fractures

 Prune

 Thin

 Prop

Prop as a last resort, and only after the first two fail.

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 117 To Remove Large Limb

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 118 Rip-Tear

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 119 Preserve Limb Collar

Collar

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 120 Zero Ground Clearance

Freedom apple

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 121 Ground Clearance

Lawn mower high

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 122 Orchard Mason Bees

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 123 Honey Bee

will sneak up and over the edge to collect nectar

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 124 Active Bee Block

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 125 Rewards Day

Liz Olsen Photo

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 126 Art by Carol DeMuth

Toledo, OR

4/5/2011 Loyd Collett, Easter Valley Ranch 127