It’s February, Apple trees look dormant at the moment but under the bark, sap will be rising and if you look closely the buds will be swelling, ready to awaken and burst into leaf and flower.
In flower, a tree expends a lot of energy and it is at this time when the tree is at its most vulnerable, and susceptible to pest and disease. Once the tree is in flower it is not recommended to undertake work, the exception being if the tree presents an overriding safety issue.
Pruning a tree when it is dormant removes the least amount of energy producing tissue and arguably causes the least amount of stress to the tree. It is important to think about what you are trying to achieve when you plan to prune your tree, ideally you want a good scaffold branch structure, remove dead or diseased tissue and think about how you will harvest fruit. If the fruit is very high up in the canopy you may need to think about how to safely retrieve it and more comprehensive crown reduction work.
Japanese tripod ladders are the safest, most stable and most practical tree pruning ladder. They are ideal for topiary, fruit tree pruning, fruit picking and hedge work. Niwaki Tripod Ladders have a wide base, deep steps and telescopic back leg, as well as clawed feet and flat top make them incredibly safe and easy to use. Rather like the design of the Eiffel tower, your weight is directed downwards and outwards, pinning the ladder to the ground.
It is important to get the branch structure right early on, for young trees and newly planted stock, you should look to remove co-dominant stems or those that have a very narrow union. There is new thinking about cross branches, that some should be retained as they act as a natural brace, but if you want to achieve an open canopy that is easily accessible think about access to the inner branch structure of the tree.
Fewer cuts, with the smallest amount of surface area will be easier for the tree to heal, very large cuts into old wood can lead to decay establishing and eventually lead to structural weakness. This is the primary reason young tree maintenance is so important to get right.
Oak Leaf Tree Surgery can give you a Free, No Obligation Norfolk Tree Surgery Quote – 07920 067617
simon@oakleaftrees.co.uk
How to successfully manage fruit trees is one of the most asked questions. Many of these things can be done yourself with some expert guidance. Simon Gerrard from Oak Leaf Trees has the technical knowledge to help improve the health of your tree, from the cottage gardener to larger orchards.