Training and Pruning Fruit and Nut Trees Flashcards
Pruning
cutting away shoots and branches
Training
manipulating a tree to desired shape, pruning to establish and maintain shape, involves tying branches to posts or trellis
Water sprouts
shoots that develop on the trunk and branches of trees
Suckers
shoots that grow from roots or the base of tree
What are the different kinds of pruning cuts
heading, thinning, releadering, jump
Heading cuts
Cut a branch without completely removing it, stimulates branch near cut, locally invigorating
When do you use heading cuts
on small branches to reduce the number of buds, possibility more vigorous flowers and fruit from buds remain
one large branch restructures a tree
on all branches to remove dead, disease, damaged wood
pruning cuts
cut just above the bud at point of attachment
pruning cuts
cut just above the bud at point of attachment
thinning cuts
complete removal at point of origin of branch or limb
What are the benefits of thinning cuts
invigorates growth, remove dense growth and allows more air and light to flow into the center of a plant, stimulate growth, reveal the structure of plant, finely tune the shape of a plant
How do you cut a thinning cut?
Locating the correct vertical angle, leave small stub and allow for the cut to heal with a callus
How do you cut a thinning cut?
Locating the correct vertical angle, leave small stub and allow for the cut to heal with a callus
Releadering cut
removes a portion of a branch at the point where dominate branch or “leader” and a thinner and shorter (the subordinate branch) split, typically at “Y” junction of two branches
What is the purpose of a releadering cut
reduce height, weight, or density of a plant, redirect growth of a plant
What is the purpose of a releadering cut
reduce height, weight, or density of a plant, redirect growth of a plant
jump cut
first cut made 4-12 inches from final cut, a quarter or third of way through branch
second cut made 1-2 inches further on branch
third cut made just outside branch collar and all the way through
What is the purpose of training trees?
- Structural support to support maximum crop load
- Well distributed crop throughout the tree
- Optimum sunlight exposure throughout the tree
- Easy access to all parts of the tree from cultural and harvesting operations
What are the two training systems
open center and central lead
Open center
spreading vase shaped tree that has good light penetration to all parts of the tree, provides good air circulation, helps prevent fungal disease, keep many fruits on a stone fruit within reach,
Why do you prune mature trees?
invigorate and renew fruitwood, manage light distribution, reduce alternate bearing, control tree size
Central leader
pruning used for tree that have more of an upright growth habit, objective is upright tree with lateral branches coming out from central axis, adaptable for closed-planted, intensive orchards
Why are modified central leaders beneficial
reduce height, maintain structural integrity, allow for good light and airflow to center of tree
True or false: grape pruning requires removal of between 80-90% of canes each year
true
When should pruning be done?
dormant season
What does summer pruning cause
dwarfing and sometimes used to control trees size
True or false: never prune off more than 20% of an old tree each year?
true
True or false: never prune off more than 20% of an old tree each year?
true
What does topping a vertical branch do?
encourages vegetative growth necessary for development of the tree and open the tree to more sunlight
What does topping a horizontal branches do?
renews fruiting wood and to thin off excessive fruit, bear earlier and heavier
How does a cut influence buds?
the cuts affect the buds within 1 to 8 inches of the cut surface, not 3-4 feet down into the tree
Do shading branches eventually stop fruiting?
Yes
How tall should stubs be cut?
within 1/4’’
What angle should the branches be of upright vigorous growing trees?
45 degrees
