Formation of the crown of fruit trees in a sparsely layered system.

Several dozen different methods are used in fruit growing formation of the crown of fruit trees. For almost all tree species, excluding peach, it is intended sparsely - tiered crown.

Rice. 1. Sparse - tiered crown:

1- tap root
2- vertical (anchor) roots
3- horizontal roots
4-root collar
5- standard
6-skeletal branch of the first order
7- skeletal branch of the second order

8-third order branch
9- overgrowing branches
10-barrel
11- half skeletal branch
12- conductor of the skeletal branch
13- center conductor

The formation has 1 - 2 tiers of skeletal branches and several single branches of the first order. In the first tier there are 2 - 3 skeletal branches, which can be derived from adjacent (nearby) buds (Fig. 2.) or at intervals of 5 - 10 cm (Fig. 3.).

Formation of the crown of fruit trees.

Rice. 2.

Rice. 3.

The second tier always consists of two skeletal branches (Fig. 2). In relatively weakly growing and poorly branching varieties, the second tier is usually not laid, placing only single skeletal branches above the first - from 2 to 4 (Fig. 3).

The distance between tiers of skeletal branches is 80 - 100 cm for vigorous trees, 60 - 70 cm for medium-sized and semi-dwarf trees, 40 - 50 cm for dwarf trees. Between single skeletal branches of the first order, an interval of 40 - 50 cm is left for vigorous and medium-sized plants and 20 - 30 cm for semi-dwarf and dwarf plants. On the skeletal branches of the first order, 2-3 skeletal branches of the second order are left (mainly in the first, less often in the second tiers). The first of them is placed 30 - 50 cm from the base of the uterine branch, and the subsequent ones are placed at approximately the same intervals between each other.

Formation of the crown of fruit trees in the year of planting.

In the year of planting, the annual seedling is pruned at a height of 80 - 90 cm (vigorous trees) or 60 - 70 cm (dwarf and semi-dwarf trees). 4 a). As soon as the plants begin to grow, remove all the buds that have awakened on the trunk. Shoots are allowed to develop only in the upper 20 cm zone of the shortened seedling. Here the future tier of skeletal branches and the central conductor will be formed.

When the shoots reach 20 - 30 cm, check the degree of their development. From these, you need to select a leader and 2 - 3 future skeletal branches of the first order. The leader (central conductor) is the uppermost, strongest and straightest shoot. If the side shoots overtake it in development, they must be pinched.

Formation of the crown of fruit trees.

Rice. 4.

Rice. 5.

Below the guide, 2 - 3 shoots are selected, well developed and with wide angles of departure. They should be evenly distributed around the circle. All other shoots are pinched, and the competitor of the guide is removed.

Formation of the crown of fruit trees in the second year.

In the second year, by spring pruning, the length of the annual growths is approximately 70 - 80 cm. The growths selected as skeletal branches are shortened by 1/4, and in weakly branching varieties by 1/3 (Fig. 4 b). The conductor is cut so that it is 10 - 15 cm above the ends of the branches of the first tier. All other growths are removed, and if there are a lot of them, some of them are cut to 15 - 20 cm.

In early June, pinching is used to regulate the subordination of the main parts of the crown to each other (Fig. 5). Competitors of shoots of extensions of the central conductor and conductors of skeletal branches are removed. The skeletal branches are given the desired angle of inclination (40 - 60°) using spacers.

Formation of the crown of fruit trees in the third year.

In the spring of the third year after planting, the growth of the extension of the central conductor is trimmed in the area where the second tier is laid. The shortening point should be 10 - 15 cm above the accepted inter-tier gap. For example, in vigorous trees (inter-tier interval 80 - 100 cm) it is necessary to shorten at a distance of 90 - 115 cm from the conditional middle of the first tier (Fig. 6).

Formation of the crown of fruit trees.

Rice. 6. FORMATION OF THE CROWN OF FRUIT TREES

Increments of the continuation of the skeletal branches of the first order are shortened by 10 - 15 cm below the trimmed apex of the central conductor. On these branches it is already possible to select (at 30 - 50 cm from their base) one skeletal branch of the second order. The latter are shortened so that they are 10 - 15 cm below the trimmed tops of the skeletal branches of the first order.

In the spring, competitors of the central conductor, conductors of the skeletal branches, and strong growth increments on the upper surface of the skeletal branches and at their bases are also removed.

Fruit formations such as ringlets, spears, fruit twigs, bouquet and mixed branches, spurs are not touched during the formation of the crown. They develop naturally. At the same time, moderately developed growth increments (40 - 70 cm) are gradually transformed into semi-skeletal and long overgrowing wood by annual sequential pruning. In the first year they are cut to 15 - 20 cm, in the second - to the lowest growth increment, in the third - to the zone of fruit branches.

Formation of the crown of fruit trees in the fourth year.

In the spring of the fourth year, the growth of the continuation of the central conductor is shortened by 1/4 - 1/3 so that the remaining annual part has a length of 50 - 60 cm (Fig. 7).

At a distance of 80 - 100 cm (vigorous trees), two well-developed growths with divergence angles of 40 - 60° are distinguished - the second tier. The growths of the continuation of the first-order skeletal branches of both tiers are pruned 10 - 15 cm below the leader. In the first tier, branches that have insufficient slope are preliminarily pruned for transfer.

On the skeletal branches of the first order of the first tier, a second skeletal branch of the second order is distinguished - 30 - 50 cm from the first, but on the opposite side. The ends of the second-order branches are shortened 10 - 15 cm below the ends of the first-order skeletal branches.

When thinning, excessively long (more than 70 - 80 cm) annual growths growing on the upper surface of the main branches and in the forks of the bases of branches, competitors of conductors, are removed. Using the technology described above, the remaining growth increments are converted into semi-skeletal or long overgrowing branches.

Formation of the crown of fruit trees in the fifth year.

In the fifth year after planting, crown formation is almost complete. At a distance of 40 - 50 cm from the second tier, a good growth with a wide angle of departure is distinguished on the central conductor. The leader itself is shortened by 1/3 - 1/4, leaving its annual part up to 50 - 60 cm long.

Skeletal branches of the first order of the 1st and 2nd tiers, if necessary, are transferred to external branches to increase their angle of inclination, and their conductors are cut 10 - 15 cm below the leader. In the first tier, with an interval of 30 - 40 cm, you can lay the third skeletal branch of the second order, and in the second - the first (25 - 30 cm from the base).

The conductors of the skeletal branches of the second order are cut 10 - 15 cm below the skeletal branches of the first. The formation of semi-skeletal and overgrowing wood, crown thinning, and summer operations are carried out in the same way as in the previous growing season.

The next year, another single branch is isolated (40 - 50 cm from the first) and the construction of the crown skeleton is completed.

A sparsely tiered crown is characterized by strength and stability, low crowding of branches, good illumination and ventilation inside the crown, ease of work on crown formation and tree care. A fruit tree with a sparsely tiered crown requires significant space on the site.

Another common type of fruit tree crown is vase-shaped

crowns, also called cup-shaped and cauldron-shaped. The vase-shaped crown is an improved form of the natural leaderless crown of fruit trees, which consists of a greatly shortened central conductor and 3-5 main branches. The vase-shaped crown is suitable for short-lived, rather weak-growing types of fruit trees and is formed in two versions: regular and improved.

The formation of a simple vase-shaped crown should begin by leaving 3-5 branches above the trunk, evenly directed in different directions, formed from adjacent buds. The divergence angle of the branches, depending on their number, can vary from 120 to 90°. The central conductor must be cut above the upper branch left. Branches that do not participate in the formation of the crown must be shortened at a distance of 40-50 cm from their base. If you plant a pair of second-order branching branches on each skeletal branch, you will get full-fledged paired branches.

Vase-shaped crown of fruit trees

1. Formation of a vase-shaped crown: three main skeletal branches.

2. Formation of a vase-shaped crown with five main skeletal branches

When forming an improved vase-shaped crown, 3-5 skeletal branches should be left above the trunk, not from adjacent buds, but from buds located at a distance of 15 cm from one another. Otherwise, the techniques for forming an improved vase-shaped crown are the same as for forming a simple vase-shaped crown.

The advantages of a vase-shaped crown are good illumination of its internal areas, compactness and moderate height of trees with this type of crown, and therefore the associated ease of tree care and harvesting. The disadvantage of this type of crown is some fragility of fastening the main branches to the trunk. A vase-shaped crown is usually formed in light-loving fruit crops in the variant of an improved vase-shaped crown.

When forming a vase-shaped crown, it is necessary to ensure that the skeletal branches are not exposed, but are evenly covered with overgrowing branches and that the crown does not thicken. To do this, competing shoots and strong branches growing vertically upward on the inside of skeletal branches should be regularly removed. The center of the crown should always be left open to sunlight and should not be allowed to become overgrown. A common crown shape for fruit trees is spindle-shaped crown, or spindlebush. This is an artificial small-sized rounded crown of fruit trees, characterized by the presence of a well-developed central conductor, on which horizontal branches are arranged evenly in a spiral, without tiers, almost at a right angle or slightly raised at an angle

10-15°. The length of the horizontal branches reaches from 1.5 to 2 m, and as you approach the top of the conductor, the length of the branches gradually and proportionally decreases. The height of a fully formed tree does not exceed 2.5-3.5 m.

The varieties of fruit crops that are best suited for creating a spindle-shaped crown are those that have high bud activity, a moderate tendency to grow and branch, and whose branches tend to naturally take a position more or less close to the horizontal plane.

The formation of a spindle-shaped crown begins with pruning an annual seedling, which is shortened in the spring at a height of 70-90 cm from the soil surface, in the summer during the growing season the branches grow freely, and in early autumn shoots more than 60 cm long are bent to a horizontal position and tied to a trunk or to stakes driven obliquely into the ground. In the spring of next year, the central conductor is cut at a height of 30-40 cm from the last bent branch; if the growth of the tree is weak, this operation should not be performed. The main point of formative activities is to ensure that there are no empty areas without branches on the central conductor. In all subsequent years, until the plant reaches a height of 2.5-3.5 m, the branches newly formed on the central conductor should also be bent to a horizontal position and secured by tying them to the underlying branches. The distance between the bases of the branches on the central conductor should not exceed 15-20 cm. In case of insufficiently intensive growth of the lateral branches, the central Spindle-shaped crown

A vase, or vase-shaped rounded crown, is one of the classic artificial decorative crowns of fruit trees. It is characterized by the absence of a central conductor and the presence of main branches evenly spaced in a circle, creating a bowl shape. The number of branches can be different: 6,8, 10, etc. The bowl can be formed from low-growing varieties of apple and pear trees, grafted on medium-growing rootstocks. To create a bowl shape, the seedling is placed inside a pre-prepared metal frame and cut at a height of 30-40 cm from the soil surface in such a way as to obtain 3 side branches evenly spaced in a circle. The next year, 2 shoots are left on each branch and thus a vase is obtained, consisting of 6 main skeletal branches. If, when pruning a seedling, you provide and leave 4 side branches, and in the spring of next year you leave 2 shoots on each of them, you will get a vase of 8 main skeletal branches. In the first 2-3 years, the main branches are tied horizontally to the frame as they grow, and later they are given a vertical position. Crown formation lasts up to 5 years. A vase can be created from various grafted varieties of apple trees, differing in the color and shape of the fruit, this will increase the decorative value of the vase

A spiral vase, or spiral cordon, is a type of vase-shaped rounded crown. To form it, you must first make and install a metal cylindrical frame with four posts, along which a wire is stretched in a spiral at an angle of 40° at a distance of 40 cm between the turns. A seedling is planted next to the stakes, the branches of which are directed along the spirals of the frame. The formation of the crowns is completed when the spiral vase reaches a height of 1.5-2 m and a width of 2 m. It is recommended to regulate shoot growth during crown formation by systematic summer pinching of shoots. Low-growing varieties of apple and pear trees are suitable for forming a spiral vase.

millet gardening and quickly conquered< лярность у плодоводов Болгарии, Венгрии, мынии, Франции и других стран. Больший сложных классических форм со строгим го< трически правильным расположением ее применяют сейчас исключительно в декора ном садоводстве. Современные же пальме стали значительно проще по сравнению с к сическими, существенно упростились треб ния к формированию пальметт, свободнее с размещать основные скелетные ветви, пр формировать обрастающие. Формовое садоводство значительно более доемко, чем выращивание деревьев с ест венными кронами, требует большего оп знаний и практики. Формовое садовод включает в себя множество приемов: еже ная детальная обрезка, подвязка побегов, i менение специальных приемов, таких как бание, скручивание, кольцевание ветвей.

Of the fruit crops in molded gardening, the most commonly used are apple and pear trees, and much less often stone fruit trees. For apple and pear trees, the most suitable varieties are those characterized by moderate growth and fruiting on ringlets, which are annual growths up to 3 cm long with one well-developed apical bud.

Modern types of palmettes have been significantly simplified in terms of work on their formation, and have become more accessible for creation on amateur farms even without extensive experience in crown formation.

The undeniable advantages of palmettes as trellis forms are the compactness of the plants, good illumination of all areas of the flat crown, high yields per unit of garden area occupied by the tree, ease of caring for the tree crown and harvesting. The most significant disadvantages are the labor intensity of crown formation, according to some reports, a delay in fruiting, and a slow increase in harvest volume.

​Similar articles​

Features of crown formation: how and when

​Next, individual branches within each tier are shortened and thinned out. Preference is given to branches extending from the skeletal ones at an angle of at least 45°. In the first tier they choose 4-5, in the second 3-4, in the third 2-3 branches. The rest are removed “on the ring.” If you need to remove a strong branch that has grown on a conductor or skeletal branch, it is removed not “on the ring,” but above the horizontal growth closest to the base of the branch being removed. If there are no lateral growths on it, it is cut off at a distance of 25 - 30 cm from the base. After pruning, several shoots appear on the branch. One of them, directed towards the outer part of the crown, is moved to a horizontal position, and the rest above it are removed in the spring of next year. Beginners are able to perform the necessary pruning on their own. To do this, you need to choose a suitable method and study the main principles of operation.​

​The main task of pruning in this case will be to maximize the opening of the center and thin out the branches:​​The main thing is that the basic shoots have time to appear. Typically, trees with this shape are planted at a distance of two meters.​ ​Type of grafting.​

​Initially, the upper branches of the plant crown are cut out, which will facilitate the penetration of sunlight onto the lower branches and increase their productivity.​

1. ​The formation of a reliable structure is also important so that the plant can withstand the noticeable weight of a significant number of fruits. The apple tree branch is quite fragile and can break off at any moment under the weight of the filling fruit.​
2. ​, but it depends on the number of tiers, which is important to remember when forming.​
3. ​A year later, on the trunk that had already appeared,​

Every gardener knows how important it is to shape the crown of a growing apple tree. This procedure ensures that each leaf will be exposed to the sun for at least three hours every day. Sufficient exposure of the apple tree to sunlight allows each leaf to receive energy (nutrition). Otherwise, the energy will not be enough and the fruit will taste sour. In addition, the lack of pruning will lead to the fact that the tree will be very tall and harvesting will be difficult. When pruning large branches, breaks and tears are possible, leading to wounds that do not heal for a long time. Therefore, when pruning large branches, you should either support such a branch, or make a cut from below, and then cut it off completely. To prevent infection from getting into the wound, it is necessary to cover it with garden varnish. During the period of full fruiting, the amount of growth noticeably decreases, and with it the leaf surface. The tree produces less carbohydrates, which are used in large quantities to form the crop. And this, in turn, leads to a decrease in the winter hardiness of fruit trees.

Apple tree crown shapes

​More information can be found in the video.​

• ​Pruning for the purpose of rejuvenation also restores yield, increases fruiting time, maintaining the size and taste of apples.​
• ​A tree with a spindle-like structure has a base stem with central shoots that radiate in different directions.​
• ​There are several goals for giving a certain shape to young fruit trees.​
• ​Proper anti-aging pruning increases the number of emerging shoots with flower buds.​

The result of breaking off branches on fruit trees is the occurrence of wounds

Sparsely tiered crown

​After watching the video, you will definitely be convinced that it will be convenient to grow an apple tree in a limited area.​ ​need to delete all branches​​When should one of the most important procedures for caring for an apple tree be carried out? From the very beginning

The formed crown should consist of one conductor and subordinate branches in tiers, i.e. the branches of the first tier should be thicker and longer than the branches of the second, and, accordingly, the branches of the second should be thicker and longer than the branches of the third tier. Then shoots that compete with skeletal branches and branches are removed, as well as all strong branches growing inside the crown, intertwining or thickening it. Unwanted skeletal branches and shoots are cut to a developed side branch, and annual ones are cut to the outer bud (located on the outside of the shoot). This is necessary for horizontal growth of the next annual growths, stimulates the formation of flower buds and increases the yield of the branch.​

​More...​​In our country, this fruit crop occupies over seventy percent of the area occupied by gardens and is distributed everywhere. There are early and late ripening apple varieties. Early (summer) ripen in August. From this time, the consumption of fresh fruits continues until April - May at the expense of autumn varieties (consumer ripeness - September - November) and winter varieties suitable for long-term storage. Some varieties are stored until the next harvest. The fruits harmoniously combine sugars and acids, contain vitamins, mineral salts and other biologically active substances. Experts advise first of all to shorten the trunk by a third, and then thin out particularly dense areas.

​It is better to start the process from the first year of the tree’s life. A plant that does not yet have branches. ​The main ones:​

​, which can rot and often cause disease or death of the plant.​

​This method of formation​

Cupped crown

​. In the first tier you can leave a branch at a height of 50 centimeters and two others (located above), but the distance between them should be 15 centimeters. One branch should go in one direction, and the other two should go in the opposite direction. Trim the ends of the branches at the same level. Take care to cut off the shoots that appear at the site where the central trunk was cut. You can leave the branches if their length is less than 30 centimeters, as they will definitely delight you with fruits.​ ​Pruning must be done correctly​After the tree has been formed, we continue to ensure that the subordination of the branches is maintained. To do this, shorten the increments. Increments of the continuation of skeletal branches are shortened by 1/4-1/5 of their length, and the leader should be 1/3 longer than other branches. Skeletal branches are trimmed so that their length is 1/2-2/3 of the length of the branch carrying them from the top to the place where the skeletal branch grows. Please note that you cannot cut annual growths short, since short pruning leads to strong branching of the branch and thickening of the crown, which delays the time the tree begins to bear fruit.​

​To the beginning​

Apple tree blossoms usually begin on May 15 - 20. In warm weather it lasts about a week, in hot, dry weather - less, and in cool or damp weather, it lasts up to two weeks. All varieties of this crop require cross-pollination, so several varieties are planted in the garden. The cutting angle should be 45 degrees. For mandatory removal, it is recommended to remove shoots located at an acute angle to the trunk, since they are more likely to break under the weight of apples.​ ​Prune the apple tree, leaving most of the skeleton.​

​The density of the apple tree causes the appearance of some diseases. One of them is scab. For this reason, the fruits lose their taste and their appearance deteriorates.

​It is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to correct mistakes made during the process of pruning fruit trees. The most common violations are: ​There are several options and schemes for forming the crown of an apple tree.​​is one of the simplest​

​In the third year, 50 centimeters from the first tier, you can leave two skeletal branches at a distance of 15 cm from each other. New skeletal branches will be required

​and regularly, because subsequently significant difficulties may arise. The formation of the crown ensures the growth of the required number of skeletal branches and their correct placement. In the future, new branches with leaves and fruits will appear at each branch, guaranteeing good development of the tree and a chance to enjoy amazingly tasty fruits.​

​To do this, you need to promptly remove young top shoots, which inevitably grow near the places where large branches are removed and annual growths are bent. All tops that arise after formation are cut out. At the end, a final check of the subordination of all continuation shoots is carried out and the formed crown of the fruit-bearing tree is assessed. By pruning you need to lay down the crown and ensure the subordination of the branches. However, the formation of the crown takes several years until a natural slowdown in growth occurs due to the transfer of vegetative branches to fruiting ones. This season it will be necessary to: promptly remove young fatty (top) shoots, which inevitably grow near the places where large branches are removed, and bend back annual growths to transfer them to fruiting.​

​Back​​Growth buds formed on a shoot behave differently under natural conditions: in the upper part they give strong growths, a little lower - weaker ones, even lower - short ringlets and leaves, and at the base of the shoot they generally remain dormant. But after pruning or bending the branches, strong shoots can grow from weaker and even dormant buds that are in the upper position.​ ​Rejuvenating procedures for an apple tree are carried out closer to spring, but until the tree has no leaves and is at rest .​

When the first branches sprout on the main shoot, the first row is created in the middle of the trunk, deviating the central parts.

Spindle-shaped crown

​Weakened branches lose strength and break from strong gusts of wind. Freezing of apple trees with a large number of branches weakens the wood. This is typical for a variety like Borovinka. For the same reason, the emergence of main branches at an acute angle is observed. This problem occurs in apple trees of the Terentyevka variety.​ ​Crown diameter decreases​​The most popular way.​

​. Pruning of apple tree branches will be minimal. Take into account that the central conductor must be cut correctly, and semi-skeletal branches can be trimmed with pruning shears. It will take about three years to create a crown. The first fruits can be obtained in the second year. Apple trees should be located at a distance of two meters from each other.​

​equalize with each other​​You should start pruning a year after you planted the apple tree in the spring. Be prepared for the fact that young seedlings have a weak root system, due to which the crown can be shortened only by a third when the seedling is about 60 centimeters high, and by half when the height is 60 centimeters or more. If the height of the seedling is less than 60 centimeters, only the lower branches can be trimmed. Remember that the main conductor should be 40 - 50 cm higher than the skeletal branches of the apple tree. Prepare for the fact that the formation will need to be carried out annually. You can ensure good growth of side branches if you trim the crown branches​ ​Fig. 7. Cut to the kidney (a - cut; b - result):​

​More...​

ogorod.guru

The main methods of forming the crown of an apple tree

​First of all, get rid of the upper branches.​

It is important to know

​The next season the frame is cut off again.​

​Special techniques and types of pruning allow maximum penetration of natural light into the thickness of the leaves. Since the apple tree needs intense sunlight for rapid growth and proper development, allowing it to bear fruit as early as possible. Typically, fruiting occurs a year or two earlier by removing not the competing, but the leading shoot, which is the main shoot in terms of growth power. It is very important to pinch out developing shoots that compete in growth strength with the leaders. Subsequently, such shoots are completely removed in the spring.

The demand for this method is due to the maximum naturalness of the tree’s silhouette. The branches are cut in tiers. A feature of the method is to increase the yield of apple trees and extend the fruiting period. To use this method, the location of plants in garden plantings must be at least three meters apart.​

Why is it necessary to form a crown?

A prerequisite is the presence of a central conductor with semi-skeletal branches extending in different directions. One-year-old seedlings can be processed. Competitors must be eliminated. The growth of the central conductor, which exceeds the end of the main branches, must be shortened.​

​approximately a quarter of the growth length​

• ​1 - the cut is made correctly;​​2​
• Apple trees are planted in spring (late April - mid-May) and autumn (September - first ten days of October). When planting apple trees in the fall, carefully remove the leaves from the seedlings. With a well-developed fibrous root system, seedlings quickly take root. When transporting them to the planting site, the roots are dipped in a creamy clay mash and wrapped in film or burlap. Before planting an apple tree, dried seedlings are immersed in water for one to two days. In the spring, when the weather is dry and windy, after planting, the stems are wrapped in a damp cloth or moss. This reduces the desiccation of the tissues of the seedling.​ ​This is done for better conductivity of sunlight to the lower parts, and, therefore, their productivity increases.​

​At the end of the third season, the creation of the “spindle” is completed.​

The quality of apples also depends on the shape of the apple tree. Instead of wasting nutrients on branches and leaves, some of the necessary elements go to the development of fruits. Thus, sugar produced during photosynthesis accumulates directly in apples.​ ​Crown diameter increases,​​This method is characterized by speed and ease of implementation.​

Formation of the crown of an apple tree (video)

Schemes and terms of formation

​In the middle part you will need​

Tiered sparse formation

​Next spring you can plant another branch.​​.​

Spindle formation

​2 - incorrect, the base of the bud is cut;​​3​

​In an area with a groundwater depth of no closer than 1.5 m, the apple tree is planted in planting holes 100 cm wide and 60 cm deep. For an apple tree on a dwarf rootstock, a hole or trench is dug smaller - 40 - 50 cm. On sandy or uncultivated poor soils, their size more. This is done in order to bring in more good fertile soil. And on heavy clay soils, the holes are made wider, but somewhat shallower, since water can stagnate at the bottom of deep holes with heavy soil and cause rotting of the roots. Fertilizers are mixed with the top layer of soil taken out of the hole. Fresh, unrotted manure cannot be used for filling pits.​

Cupping

​The appearance of shoots will also increase, on which flower buds will be able to form in the future.​ ​The plant stretches up to three hundred centimeters during this time.​

Formation of a vertical palmette

​It is necessary to form a reliable structure so that the fragile tree can withstand the significant weight of a large number of apples. This point is especially important for apple orchards in open, unprotected areas, which is associated with insufficient removal and thinning. By the autumn period of the first year, seedlings should have four main skeletal shoots, the length of which is about fifty centimeters. A small amount of shoots is subject to processing or pruning. The most important thing is to properly trim the frame of the conducting branch. The main shoots are removed using pruning shears.​

Rejuvenating formation

​make the first tier​​Now you can consider that the formation of a sparsely-tiered type of apple tree has been successfully completed. After two years, it is necessary to cut off the central conductor above the upper branch, which will be single. Remember that the crown height should not exceed 2.5 meters. What goals can be achieved by forming the crown of an apple tree?

​3 - incorrect, stump left

• ​On sandy soils, a layer of peat (10 - 15 cm) is poured at the bottom of the pit to preserve nutrients from being washed out into the deeper horizons.​
• ​You can carry out rejuvenation in the summer. In the first half of summer, during the resting season of the fruit tree, major pruning is carried out. So, the main branches are shortened by three quarters and the areas of greatest condensation are thinned out.
• As a result, the stem is shortened above any shoot that is not vertical.
• ​As a result of branches breaking off, wounds appear on the tree, which begin to rot, heal poorly and are more susceptible to frost. This leads to diseases and even death of apple trees.​

​. Semi-skeletal branches should be distinguished by an inclined position.​

This crown is perfect

Common Mistakes

​No risk of crown thickening.​

​Fig. 8. Cut leaving a thorn:​​5​

​More...​​After the operation, it is necessary to water the apple tree generously. In the autumn, the tree trunk is whitened, protecting part of the bark of the standard zone.

​Removing the stem is not so important for certain types of apple trees, since the formation of their lateral shoots occurs faster. In this case, if the trunk grows by 50 cm over the season, it is shortened to symmetrically grow new branches.​

​Dense foliage makes it easier for pests to settle in and can damage the tree bark.​

​Complete non-interference in the development of a fruit tree is also unacceptable. This leads to the crown of the apple tree becoming too voluminous and dense.​

​This pruning technique is most often used to form the crown of fruit plants, which are characterized by weak growth and short life expectancy.​​After three years, the crown height will reach 2 - 2.5 meters. Now the formation can be completed. Above one horizontal branch, remove the center conductor, adjusting the height of the apple tree.​

How to properly prune an apple tree (video)

​suitable for low-growing apple trees​

DachaDecor.ru

Formation of the crown of an apple tree: methods and seasonal features

​You can give the crown a certain shape. As a result, upward or sideways growth can be prevented.​

​1 - slice; 2 - escape garter;​

Good illumination of all parts of the crown plays a significant role in increasing the productivity of a fruit tree. To do this, it is formed and thinned out during the fruiting period. This work is usually done by trimming. But pruning associated with the formation of the crown deprives the trees of early fruiting. The desire to obtain an early commercial harvest leads to the need to reduce the degree and duration of the pruning period. At the same time, the burden of young trees with harvest leads to premature aging and a shortening of the life span of fruit trees. Accelerating the fruiting of young trees is facilitated not only by reducing the amount of pruning during the period of crown formation, but also by using techniques such as pinching, breaking, twisting, bending and intertwining branches. With the onset of sustainable fruiting, pruning is intensified in order to maintain the active growth of the tree, and therefore increase its productive period.​

​Crown formation is most often carried out in the spring.​

​This pruning technique is used for plants that grow poorly and do not last long.​

The convenient shape of the plant allows you to harvest the future harvest efficiently and without unnecessary hassle. This is much more difficult to do with a tall and overgrown apple tree.​

​You may also be interested in the article in which we talk about diseases and pests of apple trees.​

• ​The technique is a little similar to the tiered sparse method.​
• ​Watch the video to successfully care for your apple tree and guarantee its productivity and tasty fruits.​
• ​. The formation principle resembles a sparse-tiered one, but differences still exist.

​Risk of reduction in fruit size and deterioration in their taste.​

​3 - result of trimming​

• There are two ways to prune an apple tree -
• ​This is done before the buds open, usually in March and April.​
• ​The method of creating the structure resembles a tiered-discharged form, but has its own characteristics.​
• ​So, to obtain stable and good harvests, one should not neglect such an important element of care as the formation of apple tree branches.​
• ​It is possible to form a high-quality crown of a fruit plant in a few years. A very important condition is to obtain strong annual growth in the first years of apple tree cultivation. The process and method of crown formation depend on their quality and size. It is for this reason that you need to pay attention to creating optimal conditions for the growth of the apple tree.​
• ​As a rule​
• ​Formation of the crown is an important measure for caring for apple trees. One of the most important measures for caring for fruit trees, including apple trees, is the formation of the crown. It is very important to carry out the procedure in accordance with a certain algorithm, which allows you to form a structure, create the correct shape and the required volume of foliage of the fruit tree.​

​The three branches of the first tier should be directed in different directions. The divergence angle between them should be approximately 120 degrees. Each of them should be cut 40 centimeters from the central conductor, due to which paired branches will be obtained. The center conductor should be shortened above the top branch. If desired, it can be shortened after 1 - 2 years in order to give optimal strength to the frame.​

​If you are interested in how to carry out the upcoming procedure, it is very important to watch an informative video containing answers to all your questions. The following aspects will depend on the correctness of the planned procedure: yield, ripening period, beautiful appearance and pleasant taste of the fruit, and the risk of tree disease. Too thick a crown increases the risk of developing fungal diseases due to high humidity levels. In addition, a large number of branches and ovaries

• ​The sparsely tiered crown of a tree is the look closest to the natural one. On the trunk of a tree, the branches are arranged in groups, that is, in tiers along
• ​Forward​
• ​shortening​
• ​At this moment, the tree will not lose much sap, since its intensive secretion has not yet begun, which means that the wounds on the apple tree will dry out and heal faster.​

In the first row, three branches are spread in different directions, making sure that the angle of spread is approximately 130 degrees. The branch is shortened, leaving 45 cm from the trunk.

​This method is considered the most popular and the reason is the ease of the formation technique:​

​It is very important to apply fertilizers, water and remove weeds in a timely manner.​

​The formation is carried out on fruit trees located along the perimeter of the garden plot or along the façade of the building.​

​Formation of the crown of an apple tree in the form of pruning is required for fruit plantings almost throughout the entire life of the plant. This provides the tree with a neat appearance; in addition, this procedure helps to rejuvenate the plant and extend the period of fruiting.​

​Be sure to avoid​

​will lead to a decrease in fruit size​

​two or three pieces, and singly. Start forming with an annual plant. True, only the part that grew from a grafted bud is annual. And the rootstock is already three whole years old. In the first year it grew from a seed (or from a cutting), in the second it took a graft, and in the third a yearling grew on it. In early spring, measure 50 cm from the soil level on the tree. This will be the trunk zone. It is undesirable to have a bole less than 50 cm, since subsequently the lower branches will interfere with caring for the garden: digging or loosening the soil, mowing the grass in gardens with turf, applying fertilizers, collecting carrion, trimming branches. It is dangerous to leave a very high trunk in the middle zone. He will suffer greatly from sunburn and frost damage. So 50 cm, as practice has shown, is the best option.​

• ​To the end​
• ​Pruning is also carried out in summer.​
• ​The task of this stage is to get two shoots.​
• ​The silhouette of the apple tree remains as natural as possible.​
• ​When annual growth is formed at the level of forty centimeters, high-quality crown formation can take at least five years. The result will be healthy and beautiful garden plantings.​
• ​The complete formation of a crown of this type takes about four years. As a result, the crown diameter is leveled out, which gives the tree a neat and attractive appearance.​
• ​It's important to remember​
• ​overgrowth of the central part of the crown

​. In some areas, the procedure can protect the tree from low temperatures.​

​Measure another 30 cm above the trunk area. This will be the area where the main branches of the first tier of the crown are located. Everything that

​thinning​

The reason for this is the appearance of many new shoots that need to be thinned out, and the remaining ones need to be spread in the required directions.

The main stem itself is shortened above the central branch located on top. This procedure is recommended to be carried out next year. The skeleton of the tree will become stronger and more resilient.

​The branches on the tree take the form of tiers.​

​You've probably noticed the difference between apple trees in an old private garden and farm fruit tree plantations. Most often, one or two mighty trees grow on the site. While on commercial sites the plants are not tall and they are all the same shape, as if they were a carbon copy.​

• ​This event is held for long-lived apple trees, which must be preserved in fruit-bearing condition for as long as possible. As a rule,
• ​that illiterate pruning can cause more damage to the plantings than the complete lack of formation of the crown of the apple tree.​
• ​. To do this, cut off the branches of the main branches.​
• ​In our time, formation can be carried out according to the following principles:​

​located above, cut above a well-developed bud, which, when viewed vertically, is located exactly above the place where the thorn is cut. This is done so that the trunk does not deviate from the vertical position. If you make the cut with a garden knife, then place it on the back side of the bud at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal and cut the branch with a sharp movement towards you. You cannot leave a stump above the bud, otherwise the shoot may deviate greatly to the side. But you can’t cut its base either: it will dry out, and the shoot will grow from another bud and go completely in the wrong direction in which the central conductor should grow (Fig. 7). If you are not sure that you will get a good cut above the bud, leave another 10 cm above the measured ones. This will be the thorn to which you will tie the shoot when it reaches a length of 10-12 cm (Fig. 8). In the summer, take a closer look: have the shoots on the thorn from the dormant buds begun to grow? If you find them, break them out; the tree does not need them. By the way, look to see if there are any shoots in the trunk area. If there are any, pinch them above the 3-4th leaf. After pinching, they will not grow much, and their leaves will contribute to the thickening of the trunk and better growth of shoots in the branching zone. In the spring of next year, remove all the branches on the trunk, if they suddenly appear again. In the main branch placement area, select three. The lowest one should be at the height of the trunk (50 cm), and the other two are higher along the trunk at intervals of 15 cm. A little more, a little less - it doesn’t matter. It is important that the main branches are not crowded. One of them should be directed in one direction, and the other two should be directed in the opposite direction. The optimal divergence angle between the main branches is 120 degrees. Cut out one or two branches closest to the place where the stem was cut last year. These are competitors. They extend from the central conductor at an acute (less than 40 degrees) angle and grow as strongly as the branch with which the crown grows in height. They are not suitable as main branches, since they constantly threaten to break. Also cut out other strong branches that are not part of the skeleton. Make the cut at their very base, where there is usually an annular influx. Hence the term among gardeners - cut into a ring. By the way, in the annular influx there are a lot of cells capable of active division, which contributes to better and faster healing of wounds. However, if you prefer, you can bend them to a horizontal or drooping position. Let them work on the plant temporarily. You look, and the beginning of fruiting will accelerate. And you will always have time to cut them out. In addition, horizontally located branches will not grow much (Fig. 9.2-3).​

​June 27, 2015​

​. When shortening, part of the annual growth or perennial branch is removed. This pruning method has different effects on trees depending on their age. In young trees, when annual growths are repeatedly shortened, the growth of the cut branch in length is weakened, but its branching increases, which is used in the formation of the crown. Shortening the branches of aging trees increases the number of annual growths, their length, and, consequently, the number of large, healthy leaves. By shortening, you can also change the direction of branch growth. When thinning, part or all of the branch is removed at the base.

However, there are also opponents of summer pruning.

​Usually this appearance is given to fruit trees growing along the perimeter of the site, in border zones as a screen or along artificial objects. The algorithm for creating a structure for a tree border requires four years. Then the cultivated plantings begin to bear fruit.​

• A feature of this type can be called increased tree productivity and longevity.
• Of course, their height depends on the age of the apple trees, but professional gardeners definitely worked on the silhouette. Is the appearance of trees so important, what does it influence and, most importantly, how to form the crown correctly?​
• ​The technique is used when it is impossible to replace an old plant with a young seedling.​
• There are several methods for forming the crown of apple trees and other young fruit plants. To choose the most suitable pruning method, it is important to consider not only the age and variety of the plant, but also the type of grafting.​
• ​Do you want to increase the productivity of your apple tree? Take care to preserve short branches, which are sure to delight you with delicious fruits.​
• ​sparsely-tiered
• ​Fig. 9. Formation of a sparse-tiered crown:​

​Formation of the crown of pome crops in a sparsely layered system has its own characteristics.​

​More...​

​The main argument of experienced gardeners is that in summer the greatest amount of useful elements accumulate in the leaves of apple trees.​

• ​When creating a palmette:​
• ​On the site, apple trees are placed in such a way that there is room for them, leaving an interval of three meters between adjacent plantings.​

​A garden with young apple trees requires constant care and monitoring of its life cycle.​

• As a result of pruning, the apple tree changes beyond recognition.
• ​Every gardener knows that proper pruning can improve not only the appearance of a tree, but also its health.​
• ​This type of apple tree crown is ideal for trees that are grown along the fence or walls of houses,​
• ​cupped​
• ​1-2 - biennial tree and its pruning;​
• ​With the help of crown pruning, you can regulate the growth and development of the tree, the timing of its entry into fruiting. Formation ensures an abundant and high-quality harvest, and also protects against diseases and pests.​

​The selection and creation of crown forms should be linked to the density of trees on the site. Fruit trees need good lighting, which determines the quantity and quality of the harvest. Therefore, the shape of the crown affects the yield and longevity of trees.​

• By removing young shoots, valuable substances are lost.
• ​The branches of the skeleton turn into a surface lying in the same plane, and they are located on the same line.​

​You need to start constructing using this method after winter, measuring out an area on the seedling at a distance of half a meter from the soil. Let us remember that an annual plant is one that has a graft, while the rootstock can be up to two years old.​

​One of the main elements of caring for fruit plantings is the formation of the crown. Using a certain algorithm, the structure of the structure, shape and volume of foliage are created.​

​Often the plants themselves give signals that they need this procedure.​

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​along the boundaries of the land plot​
​vertical palmette​
​3 - pruning a three-year-old tree;​

​Pruning of pome crops begins from the end of February - beginning of March, when the danger of severe frosts has passed and the temperature has settled at least -2-4 °C. At lower temperatures, the wood of fruit trees becomes brittle, the cuts are uneven and traumatic, the bark breaks off, leaving defenseless bare trunks open to sunburn and pests. Therefore, even in the beginning - mid-February, while walking around the garden, it is worth determining what pruning each tree needs.​

​Depending on the varieties and growing conditions, each gardening zone has its own crown shapes.​
​Therefore, experts recommend removing only branches that compete with the conductor.​
​To achieve this effect, all shoots on the trunk in each row are removed, leaving a pair, moreover, having an unequal direction of growth.​

​Another 30 cm is marked above the place of the trunk. In this place the first order will be located, consisting of three basic shoots.​

Apple trees experience the need to prune branches throughout their entire life. So, for middle-aged and old trees, it is important to trim the crown in order to rejuvenate the crop.​
​Features of anti-aging pruning:​​. It will take about four years to form. After this period, the tree will delight you with tasty fruits and productivity. ​spindle-shaped.​​4 - fully formed crown

​A large number of branches competing for nutrients and sun must be limited so that the subordination of the branches of the first and subsequent orders is not violated. If this is not done, excessive vegetative mass is formed to the detriment of the formation of flower buds and the yield is reduced. Due to the lack of light in the inner zone of such a crown, the fruiting branches die off early, and few flower buds are formed on the remaining ones. Almost no ovaries are formed. Inside the thickened crown, conditions are created for the development of pests and diseases, since the penetration of sunlight into it is difficult, ventilation is limited, and treatment with supporting, nutritional and protective preparations does not have an effect.

​The following crowns can be used for standard trees: sparsely-tiered, vertical palmette, spindle-shaped. Many gardeners allow a free-growing crown, that is, they leave it without formation.
During this period, you can get rid of the shoots growing along the frame.
​The levels are formed symmetrically vertically and have a distance of 85 cm.​
​After 10 months, the shoots formed in the trunk are cut off. In a row, a shoot is kept at a distance of 30 cm, and then two, with a distance of 20. The principle of the method is a mirror arrangement of branches. Often the condensation of a tree is due to the fact that in frosts the base trunk dies and intensive development of lateral shoots begins, with over time turning into the main conductors.​
​Helps restore productivity and allows you to increase fruiting time while maintaining the size and taste of the fruit.​

​Dense garden plantings can cause diseases​

Skeletal branches should be placed in the same plane. As a result, the crown will be flat. In each tier that is part of the central conductor, you will need to leave two branches, but they should grow in opposite directions from each other. The distance between tiers should be 80 centimeters.​
​What features should be taken into account?​
​Do not cut, bend or shorten branches shorter than 30 cm. Leave them alone. And in the future, for any

The development of the crown of such a tree goes up due to the mass of shoots, the vertical direction of which stimulates the formation of new vegetative shoots devoid of flower buds. In such a crown there are no conditions for the growth of horizontal shoots on which flower buds are laid that ensure the harvest. In addition, the rapid upward growth of a tree leads to the formation of sharp angles between the branches, which carries the risk of branches breaking and breaking off from the trunk under increased loads. The greater the angle of departure of the branch, the better its fusion with the trunk or branch of the previous order.

• ​Sparsely-tiered crown
• ​Prune the branches in the autumn season.​
• The shoots that appear on the main shoots and the frame are bent. It is on them that apples will ripen in the future.​
• ​It is better to leave the branches to a size of 35 cm, as small shoots produce better quality apples.​
• ​Unfortunately, an illiterate procedure causes more damage to the plant than helps it develop properly.​
• At the first stage, the stem part of the plant is shortened by a third, and then especially dense areas of the plant crown are subject to thinning.
• ​, including scab. The dense foliage of the crown is very attractive to various pathogenic microorganisms and pests. The trees lose their visual attractiveness, in addition, the yield decreases and the taste of the fruit suffers significantly.​
• ​Attention should be paid to escapes. They will need to be moved to an inclined position. Later they will bear fruit.​
• ​This forming option is​
• Never touch such branches when pruning, except in special cases. The fact is that most short branches are more prone to fruiting than to growth. Unfortunately, many gardeners do not know this and cut out such branches with the firm confidence that they are doing a good and very necessary thing for the trees. But in fact it is difficult to imagine anything more ridiculous. It's painful to look at trees trimmed into half-boxes. The three main branches that were left will require a little more work. So that none of them overtakes the others in growth, they must be placed in an equal position. Trim their ends at approximately the same level. Or, instead of pruning, you can slightly bend the longer branch downwards and pull the shorter one up. If after this the ends of the branches are not at the same level, you will have to shorten the strongest one slightly. By the way, the central conductor throughout the entire period of crown formation should be higher than the ends of the main branches in plants with pyramidal growth by 15-20, with spreading ones - by 10-15 cm. Next year, lay two more main branches 50-60 cm above the branches of the first tier. The interval between them is 10-15 cm. As last year, equalize them with each other. Be sure to cut out competitors and shorten the conductor's last year's growth if it ends up much higher than the ends of the newly abandoned main branches. Those of them that last year were bent to a horizontal or drooping position, if they do not interfere, leave them alone, and if they thicken the crown, shorten them further or cut them into a ring. A year later, lay another one 40 cm above the two branches of the second tier main branch (Fig. 9.4). You can assume that the skeleton of the crown is formed. After a year or two, when the upper single branch takes a stable position, cut off the central conductor above it. A further increase in crown height is undesirable; the optimal is 2.5-3 m. It should be kept at this level.​
• There are many ways to prune fruit trees, depending on the rootstock (vigorous, medium-growing, dwarf), growing area and corresponding technologies. The most common method is to prune fruit trees using a sparsely tiered system, when the skeletal branches are arranged in the form of tiers on top of each other. The priority crops that lend themselves well to pruning using this system are apple and pear.​

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Pruning apple and pear trees « Garden tricks

​This does not in any way affect the amount of the future harvest.​

​Basic branches should be tightened if they have noticeably moved away from the head part. If the processes have not deviated enough, then, on the contrary, they are pulled back.

​For the next season, another row is laid at a distance of 45 cm from the previous level. Now the creation of the tiered-discharged form of the apple tree is completed. Then you just have to remove the base conducting process above the single branch from above. The growth of the crop should not exceed 2 meters.​

​Young apple trees and those that have already begun to bear fruit are shaped in different ways, the choice of which takes into account:​

Crown thickening

​The cutting angle should be about forty-five degrees.​

The branches of the apple tree weaken and lose strength,

​The main branches need to be pulled up, but only if they are deviated from the central conductor.​

Pruning a non-bearing tree

​one of the most popular​

If you purchased a two-year-old seedling that has several strong branches, then start forming a crown with three

Crown lightening

​The formation of the crown is carried out in the initial 5-7 years of the life of the fruit plant. Such a tree must have one conductor. Therefore, the most powerful, developed shoot of the continuation of the conductor is selected and left, the rest are removed.

The crown skeleton will be strong if the branches are strong and subordinate to the conductor (that is, the ends of all branches are 20 - 25 cm below the conductor); the diameter of the skeletal branches at their base will not exceed half the diameter of the conductor at the point of their connection; the angle between these branches and the conductor (divergence angle) will be 45 - 60°; all skeletal branches are evenly located in space, that is, the angle of “divergence” between two adjacent branches can be within limits. 90 - 150°.​

Moreover, the autumn method perfectly prepares the apple tree for wintering, freeing the tree from dried, large or non-fruit-bearing branches.

What should the crown be like?

With this form, the tree grows in length according to the number of rows. It is possible to adjust the value when pruning the base shoots and trunk annually. Growth over 12 months is shortened by a small distance. Horizontally the tree grows by about two hundred centimeters.​

Shortening increments

​This method is fast because a small number of shoots are processed. With this method, it is important to correctly trim the frame of the conducting branch.

Transferring branches to fruiting

​Age of the tree.​

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How to prune and form a sparsely tiered tree crown

​It is imperative to remove shoots that are located at an acute angle to the stem part and are at risk of breaking off during a heavy harvest.​ ​which contributes to the breaking off of shoots under the influence of gusts of wind. As a rule, the reason for this is low temperatures: the branches freeze slightly and can become brittle.​ The crown width can be two meters. ​. The crown resembles its natural shape in appearance. The branches on the trunk should be arranged in tiers. Apple trees can delight you with their durability and productivity, but the trees must be placed at a distance of four meters.​

​branches. The lowest one should be at a height of 40-50 cm from the soil level. The interval between the branches is desirable 10-15 cm, and the divergence angle between the two upper ones is approximately 60-70 degrees.​ ​The photo shows a young apple tree, the crown of which is formed according to a sparsely layered system, before formative spring pruning. Before the trees enter the fruiting season, formative pruning is carried out. Remove competitors on the central conductor, vertical branches near the skeletal branches. Sharp forks are transferred to the lateral branch. Vertically growing branches on the periphery of the crown are cut to a side branch, horizontal if possible. They form tiers in which the skeletal branches are subordinate. The upper tier of branches is subordinated to the lower one, approximately 30-50 cm shorter. The central conductor should be 25-30 cm above the upper tier of the side branches.​ ​More...​

​Thus, all options for crown formation come down to ensuring the correct balance of the growth force of the base conductor and the main branches growing from it.​

​An amazing feature of the apple tree is its almost eternal ability to produce a harvest. Although, the intensity of fruiting decreases noticeably over the years.

​The main shoots can be removed with improvised tools, using, for example, pruning shears, since the precision of the cut is not fundamentally important in this case.​

​Varie.​

​Rejuvenation by pruning is performed in the spring, but when the fruit plant is dormant.​
​The use of special equipment and different pruning methods allows you to thin out the foliage of the crown as much as possible and ensure high-quality penetration of sunlight to all parts of the tree. An apple growing on a sparse branch ripens much faster and has better quality indicators.​
​Height can be adjusted​
​Formation should begin by measuring the trunk zone on an annual seedling. Keep in mind that the rootstock can be three years old, but the grafted shoot must be one year old. The distance from the ground should be approximately 50 centimeters. Above the measured area of ​​the trunk, you should mark an additional 30 centimeters, where the three main branches belonging to the first tier will be located. Branches growing higher should be cut off.​

​Kudryavets R.P.​

From the age of 5-6 years, most varieties begin to bear fruit. The crown thickens and fruiting shifts to the periphery. To prevent this, you need to start lightening the crown. We leave the central conductor, and cut out the competitors “into a ring,” that is, at the base of the branch growth. On the left conductor, developed skeletal branches are selected and combined into groups by height, which will form the first, second, and, if necessary, the third tier. The distance between the first and second tier is maintained at about 60-80 cm, between the second and third - 30-40 cm. The branches forming the second tier are spread along the diameter of the trunk relative to the first, the branches forming the third tier - relative to the second. I cut out branches that are not included in the tiers “into a ring.” The tree trunk is left 80 cm high.

To ensure that all parts of the apple tree crown are well illuminated, it is systematically thinned out, maintaining the subordination of the skeletal branches to the conductor. Narrow, pyramidal crowns are expanded by pruning skeletal branches into external growths. In spreading (wide) crowns, the growth of skeletal branches is directed upward, cutting them into branches with a more vertical position in the crown. At the ends of the branches, the forks formed from two equally developed growths are eliminated. To prevent them from breaking in the future, one of them is removed.​

​It is obvious that the central conductor should be higher, stronger and more powerful than the processes. When the branches grow to the same level as the conductors, shortening is carried out. The owners preserve the long-lived apple tree in all possible ways, one of which includes pruning. There is an opinion that it is more advisable to remove the old tree, replacing it with young seedlings of new varieties. If there is a desire to leave an old apple tree, then this is done by forming the main structure of the branches. Formation of the crown of an apple tree

The formation system should be understood as the creation of a crown of a certain habit and structure using pruning or other techniques for regulating plant growth. Each system is characterized by the shape of the crown, the height of the trunk, the presence or absence of a conductor, the number and placement on the trunk and in space of skeletal branches of the first and second orders of branching, as well as methods of regulating plant growth used during formation.

In gardens with large feeding areas and when trees stand freely, a sparse-tiered formation system is widespread (Fig. 43). Its main feature is the tiered and single placement of first-order skeletal branches, as well as the possibility of choosing different patterns for their placement on the trunk.

The height of the trunk is 50-70 cm, the crown is formed from five to six branches of the first order. The following options for their placement are possible: the lower tier of two branches, the upper three separately; two tiers of two branches, the top two singly; lower tier of three branches, three upper branches singly; the lower tier of three, the second of two, the two upper branches singly. For the strength of the crown, it is necessary that there be no less than the number of single branches above the tier than the number of branches in the tier. The guidewire is removed above the last lateral branch.

To ensure a good light regime in the crown, it is important to maintain certain distances between the skeletal branches. Between two two-legged tiers, for varieties with a spreading crown, the distance should be 60-80 cm, and with a pyramidal one - 80-100 cm. If a single branch above a two-legged tier is directed towards a large free gap between the lower branches, then the distance to this branch may be small (25-50 cm). The intervals between single branches in varieties with a pyramidal crown should be 80-100 cm, and with a spreading crown - 60-80 cm.

Skeletal branches of the second order are possible only in the lower tier, no more than two on the skeletal branch of the first order of branching. They are placed at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other. Thus, the total number of skeletal branches in the crown should be no more than 12. All other branches are formed as semi-skeletal branches 1-1.5 m long. They are placed in groups of two or three with distances between adjacent groups of 40-80 cm. Tree growth is limited at height 3.5-4 m.

The sparse-tiered formation system is the least patterned and corresponds well to the natural patterns of crown composition in most breeds.

Whorled-tiered. Skeletal branches of the first order (8-12) are placed in tiers: in the lower tier there are usually five, and in subsequent ones there are three or four branches. In production conditions, two tiers are usually laid, after which the conductor is cut out or it develops freely (in most varieties of apple trees, it deviates with age and takes the position of a side branch).

The branches of the first tier are placed as evenly as possible around the trunk, and the branches of the second - in the spaces between the branches of the first tier. The distance between adjacent tiers is 90-100 cm. On the branches of the first order of the first tier, two or three skeletal branches of the second order are formed: the first at a distance of 50-60 cm from the trunk, and the subsequent ones with an interval of 35-40 cm. On the branches of the second order, each one or two skeletal branches of the third order with an interval of 30-40 cm. To improve the illumination of the crown, in the second tier (as well as in the third, if there is one) only semi-skeletal branches with a length of no more than 150 cm are formed on the branches of the first order.

In the first half of the century, this system prevailed in industrial plantings of apple and pear trees, which is explained by the simplicity and speed of completion of formation. However, the crown turns out to be fragile in the places where the skeletal branches depart from the trunk, becomes very thick and has other design flaws. Therefore, this system has now been replaced by a more advanced one.

Changed-leader(sparse, tiered) crown. Five to six skeletal branches of the first order are placed on the trunk singly at intervals of 25-40 cm, the guide is removed above the last lateral branch. Skeletal branches of the second order are laid on the branches of the first order, two or three at intervals of 35-50 cm.

Despite the strength and favorable light conditions, this type of crown is not widely used due to the large amount of pruning, the length of the formation period, the later entry of trees into fruiting and the slow increase in yield.

Vase-shaped, cup-shaped, cauldron-shaped crown is used mainly on peach. The conductor is removed above the first tier of three to five branches formed from adjacent buds. Pruning is used to achieve bifurcation of skeletal branches to ever increasing orders.

Improved vase-shaped crown. Three skeletal branches from adjacent buds are laid in a tier, or better at intervals of 25-40 cm. Two or three skeletal branches are placed on them with distances of 35-50 cm. The branches of subsequent branching orders are semi-skeletal and overgrowing. The center of the crown is constantly kept open. The crown has good light conditions, but is not strong enough.

Lobed crown of A. A. Ilyinsky has two or three four-story tiers. Branches in tiers are laid in pairs from adjacent opposite buds, the distance between pairs is 15-20 cm, divergence angles are about 90° (cross placement of branches). The branches of the second and third tiers are placed above the branches of the first tier, as a result of which four vertical planes are formed in the crown. The distance between tiers is 60-100 cm. 30-50 cm above the last tier, the conductor is cut out above a single side branch. The interlobular space at the periphery of the crown, about 1 m wide, ends about a meter from the trunk and has a width of 0.6-0.7 m in this part.

The crown has a good light regime and is convenient for picking fruits. Currently being tested under production conditions in eastern Ukraine and the North Caucasus.

Channel-fan system formation by N.P. Donskikh (Fig. 44) is used in gardens with wide row spacing (6 m or more) and close placement of trees in rows (3-4 m). The crown is formed from five to six branches of the first order. They are placed on the trunk according to the principle of a sparse-tiered system, i.e., in tiers and singly. The significant difference is that the branches are directed only towards the row spacing: the lower four at an angle of approximately 45° to the row line, and the upper one or two at an angle of 90°. The trees in a row quickly close together and form a solid wall, so only semi-skeletal branches form along the row. The conductor is removed above the last side branch, thereby creating a light channel along the row, free of branches and providing good illumination within the crown. For machine operation and tree care, a free space of 2-2.5 m wide is left between the rows, and 0.5-0.6 m wide between adjacent plants in the row.

The channel-fan formation system has become widespread in connection with the transition to dense planting of trees in rows. However, it has a number of significant disadvantages: the rapid closing of crowns in rows and their large width, which make harvesting difficult, a significant amount of manual pruning when creating and maintaining free spaces between trees in rows, the use of pruning machines mainly only when limiting the height of trees, etc.

The vertical-plane formation system was developed by N.P. Donskikh for plantings on seed rootstocks with tree planting patterns of 5 × 4-5, 4 × 4-5 m. Five to six skeletal branches of the first order are placed on the trunk according to the principle of a sparse-tiered crown, but the four lower ones are directed at an angle of 35-45° to the axis of the row, and one or two upper ones are directed along the axis of the row (Fig. 45). After the plants begin to close in the rows, contour pruning is carried out, leaving a free space 2-2.5 m wide, as a result of which the width of the wall along the row is 3-2.5 m (planting pattern 5 × 5 m), the height of the wall is 4-4 .5 m.

In plantings of this design, there are great opportunities for the use of pruning machines, labor productivity in harvesting fruits, the effectiveness of measures to combat diseases and pests are significantly increased, the yield reaches 400-550 c per 1 hectare. Currently, plantings of this type are being tested in production conditions.

The tasks of forming freely growing trees in plantings with dense placement of trees in rows and increased planting density (5 × 5 m, etc.) include increasing the strength of trees, creating good illumination inside the crown during the entire period of production use of plantings, limiting the volume of the crown to increase labor productivity in plant care work, the effectiveness of measures to combat diseases and pests, creating conditions for machine pruning, etc. The strength of the crown can be significantly increased if a number of rules are followed during formation:

1. The skeletal branches must have good subordination, i.e., the correct ratio in the strength of development between the supporting branches and the branches extending from them: the conductor must prevail over the branches of the first order, the latter over the branches of the second order, etc.

With good subordination, the diameter of the side branch should be 0.4-0.6 of the diameter of the supporting branch below the side branch. With a smaller diameter, the lateral branch lags behind in growth and cannot become a full-fledged skeletal branch; with a larger diameter, the strength of the connection with the supporting branch weakens and there is a danger of fracture. The intensity of branch growth is regulated by appropriate pruning or changing the slope of the lateral branch.

2. Regulation of the subordination of lateral branches to the conductor becomes more difficult with an increase in their number in the tier. Therefore, a tier should be created from no more than three branches with divergence angles of at least 90°, if these branches are formed from adjacent buds.

3. Only those branches with angles of departure of at least 40° and no more than 80° can be selected as skeletal ones. At branching angles less than 40°, the bark tissues are pinched by the thickening branches and die, as a result, the formation of continuous layers of wood stops and the mechanical connection with the supporting branch is provided only in the lower part of the branch (Fig. 46). In addition, branches with sharp angles of departure very easily fall out of alignment, and this increases the risk of fracture. Therefore, branches with sharp corners must be removed at a young age.

At angles of departure of more than 80-90°, the branches lag behind in growth and it is difficult to form full-fledged skeletal branches from them. Consequently, optimal conditions for the formation of full-fledged skeletal branches are created at angles of divergence of 45-65°.

4. To create a favorable light regime in the crown, the following conditions are observed. The number of skeletal branches of the first and second orders is strictly normalized in accordance with the adopted formation system. Skeletal branches are placed in space so that each has its own sector in the crown, and the crown as a whole represents the most rational and highly productive optical system. Strictly maintain the intervals between adjacent skeletal branches established by the formation system. 2-3 years after the laying of the last skeletal branch, when it takes a stable spatial position, the conductor and large branches shading the center of the crown are cut out, and then constantly maintain sufficient light transmission of the crown by thinning.

5. Limiting the volume of the crown is of great production importance, since with increasing size, labor productivity in caring for plants and collecting fruits, as well as the effectiveness of measures to combat diseases and pests decrease due to a decrease in the quality of treatment of all parts of the crown with pesticides. For these reasons, the size of the crowns of an apple tree should not exceed 5-6 m in diameter and 3.5-4 m in height; for a pear tree - 5-6 and 4-4.5 m, respectively.

Pruning apple and pear trees.First pruning after planting the garden. It has been established that pruning trees in the first year after planting weakens the plants, delaying the onset of regrowth and root development. Therefore, next year trees without pruning develop better than with pruning. But this pattern is observed only in conditions of a cool and humid spring or with timely and abundant watering.

In conditions of a dry and hot spring and insufficient soil moisture, the early blooming of apical buds increases the risk of drying out and death of plants. Their removal during pruning delays the formation of leaves by 5-7 days and thereby increases the survival rate of trees. Therefore, in areas of sufficient moisture, the first pruning is carried out in the spring after a year, and in areas of insufficient moisture - in the spring after planting.

During the first pruning, the crown formation that began in the nursery continues. Since branches may be damaged during digging and transportation, nurseries produce seedlings with five to eight branches, i.e., with more than is needed to form the lower tier. Therefore, one of the main tasks of the first pruning is to select good skeletal branches in accordance with the requirements of the adopted formation system. Competitive branches with sharp angles of departure are cut out, since it is usually not possible to suppress them with strong pruning. All strong excess branches are weakened by pruning or bent to a horizontal position to transform them into semi-skeletal or overgrowing branches. The second task is to equalize the strength of the development of future skeletal branches, subordinate them to the conductor, and also to obtain lateral branches closer to the base of the branches. To do this, the branch with the average strength is shortened by about 1/3, and all the rest are trimmed so that the ends of the branches are at approximately the same level: the upper branches are stronger and the lower ones are weaker. The conductor in varieties with a pyramidal crown type should exceed the lateral branches by 20-25 cm, and in varieties with a spreading crown - by 10-15 cm (Fig. 47).

When shortening, the future shoots of the continuation are simultaneously given the desired direction, which is achieved by correctly choosing the position of the remaining upper bud.

In varieties with a pyramidal crown, the cut is made above the outer bud in order to deflect the branch and thereby expand the crown, and in varieties with a spreading crown, the cut is made above the inner bud to make the crown more compact and prevent the branches from sagging.

Pruning during growth period. The main task of pruning in this age period is the formation of the crown. Regular annual pruning begins a year after the first post-planting pruning. If pruning is carried out irregularly, then it is forcedly strong, since any growth shoot with intensive growth turns into a large branch after 2-3 years. When removing overgrown branches, many large wounds remain on the tree, the risk of wood infection increases, and labor costs for pruning increase by 3-5 times. The approximate cutting order is as follows:

1. Remove emerging competitors and branches with very sharp corners, since it is usually not possible to weaken their growth by pruning or bending.

2. The next skeletal branches of the first order are selected in accordance with the adopted formation system.

3. On the first-order branches of the lower tier, second-order branches are selected. For this, lateral branches are most suitable, and not branches that have developed on the inside of the skeletal branch of the first order, since they grow inside the crown and will thicken it. Cut them into a ring. Branches developed from external buds (on the outside of the branch) are also unsuitable as second-order skeletal branches (they easily droop under the weight of the harvest and often break off).

4. All other strongly growing branches are converted into overgrown or semi-skeletal branches by pruning or bending. Strong branches, if they occupy a position close to horizontal, as well as weak growths shorter than 20-25 cm, do not weaken. The growth of such branches is restrained; fruiting soon begins on them, and without pruning they turn into semi-skeletal ones.

5. The skeletal branches of the first order are subordinated to the conductor, and the skeletal branches of the second order are subordinated to the branches of the first order (should be approximately at the same level). The height of the conductor should be 20-25 cm for varieties with a compressed crown and 10-15 cm for varieties with a spreading crown. The ends of the first-order branches should have approximately the same excess over the second-order branches (Fig. 48).

When forming young trees, it is important to create strong skeletal branches covered along the entire length with lateral branches. The formation of thin bare skeletal branches, which do not thicken well and easily sag with the onset of fruiting, should not be allowed. To avoid this, the growths are shortened. In this case, you need to correctly set the degree of shortening. A very weak pruning does not give the desired effect, an excessively strong one leads to a thickening of the crown and the need for severe thinning pruning in subsequent years, which inevitably weakens the trees and delays the onset of their fruiting.

To determine the optimal degree of shortening, the length of annual branches, their position in the crown and varietal characteristics of bud awakening and shoot production ability are taken into account. Annual growths of less than 40 cm are not shortened to increase bud viability; with a length of 40-60 cm, the shortening should be weak, and with a length of more than 60 cm - medium or strong.

In varieties with good bud awakening and good shoot-producing ability, annual branches are pruned slightly, removing only the ends with immature wood and weak buds. More intensive shortening leads to thickening of the crown.

In varieties with high or average bud arousability, but with average or weak shoot-producing ability, the annual branches are shortened by 1/4-1/3. With this shortening, instead of weak, short-lived ringlets, stronger mixed fruit-bearing branches develop along the entire length (Fig. 49).

In varieties with poor bud awakening and poor shoot production ability (such as Cinnamon Striped), increasing the degree of shortening does not give the desired effect. It is used only in the first 4-5 years to obtain stable skeletal branches and to establish strong lateral branches at their base.

In subsequent years, lateral branch pruning is used to enhance branching. The essence of this pruning method is shown in Figure 50. When the entire annual branch and a small part of the two-year growth above the upper lateral branch are removed, the awakening of the buds and the growth of lateral branches are enhanced both below and above the cut site.

The degree of shortening of the annual branches may be more severe than is necessary to enhance the awakening of the buds. In particular, the need for such pruning often arises in connection with the need to subordinate, change the direction or equalize the growth force of branches.

Young plants produce many strong shoots every year. As a result, if their growth is not regulated, much more skeletal branches are formed than is necessary to create a full-fledged crown.

Vertically growing excess branches, which are difficult to turn into semi-skeletal ones by pruning, must be cut into a ring. With a large slope, it is relatively easy to turn strong branches into semi-skeletal and overgrown branches with appropriate pruning. The technique of such pruning is shown in Figure 51. In the first year, the annual branch is greatly shortened, leaving four to eight well-developed buds. After such pruning, several strong shoots develop from the upper buds, and overgrowing branches from the lower ones. The next year, the branch is cut off above the lower, obliquely located branch of the growth type, and the remaining branch is slightly shortened. Similar pruning is carried out in the 3rd year. After 2-3 years the branch begins to bear fruit.

Heavy pruning weakens the growth of young trees, delays their entry into fruiting, and reduces the rate of yield growth. In the last 10-15 years, the feasibility of minimal pruning of trees in the first and second age periods has been established. Pruning should be carried out only to subordinate the branches, to prevent the formation of a large bare zone in the lower parts of strong annual growths, to enhance the growth of ringlets in varieties with high bud vigor and to establish new skeletal and semi-skeletal branches of the first order. In this case, shortening pruning is replaced by changing the angle of inclination of the branches, installing spacers, gartering or deformation.

Only competing branches with sharp angles of departure, the growth of which is difficult to weaken by pruning and other techniques, as well as strongly thickening branches, are cut out. All others are bent to a horizontal position.

Pruning during growth and fruiting period. In this age period, the formation of the crown is completed: the last skeletal branches of the first order are selected, and in the lower tier - the skeletal branches of the second order; after 3-4 years, the conductor is removed above the upper skeletal branch and the subordination of the branches is constantly maintained.

To prevent thickening of the crown, special attention is paid to pruning the peripheral part, since here the growth of shoots is still intense and unnecessary strong branches may appear. The growth of semi-skeletal branches is carefully regulated so that their length does not exceed 1 m.

Before removing the conductor, the degree of its excess over the endings of the skeletal branches of the lower tier is increased to 60-80 cm. The endings of the remaining skeletal branches of the first order occupy an intermediate position. If the difference in the height of the ends of the skeletal branches of the first and second orders is brought to 40-60 cm, then shortening is carried out only to subordinate the branches. After removing the conductor, the height of the tree is limited to 3.5-4 m, for which the growth of skeletal branches is directed towards the row spacing by pruning to the outer side branches.

Pruning during fruiting period. The main goal of pruning in this age period is to restore and maintain plant growth intensity at a sufficiently high level, as well as reduce the excess number of fruiting points. This is achieved through rejuvenation and detailed pruning.

Anti-aging pruning - shortening perennial branches to 3-5 year old and older parts. Its degree depends on the condition of the plants. If the length of annual growths has decreased to 10-20 cm, light pruning is carried out (on 2-3-year-old parts of branches), and if the growth is even weaker, the pruning is intensified. When determining the degree of pruning, they are guided by the following rule: cut to that part of the branch where the length of the annual growth was at least 40 cm. Weaker pruning does not give the desired results. All skeletal and semi-skeletal branches are rejuvenated. The reaction of plants to pruning, gradually weakening, persists for 3-4 years, after which it is repeated.

During detailed pruning, overgrowing branches are additionally shortened: mixed fruit-bearing branches more than 25 cm long to half their length, and from V3 to V2 branches of fruit-bearing branches are removed. Some of the old fruit-bearing branches deep in the crown and in dense places are cut out for thinning (Fig. 52).

Reduced tree height. In tall trees (more than 4.5 m), the fruiting zone is usually 1.5-2 m and is located on the periphery of the crown; the unproductive inner zone occupies up to 50% of the total volume. The costs of garden care, especially harvesting and pruning, increase sharply as the height increases, and the effectiveness of protective measures and the quality of the fruit decrease. Therefore, for plants on seed rootstocks, the optimal height is 3.5-4.5 m. If for some reason the height was not limited during formation, it must be reduced without further delay.

A sharp one-time reduction with the removal of a large number of fruit-bearing branches can lead to a significant decrease in yield. At the same time, intensive growth of the tops begins and there is a need for significant pruning to normalize, form and regulate the power of their development. Therefore, in old gardens the crown is reduced in two stages.

First, a moderate reduction of 1-2 m is carried out. At the same time, the conductor is removed and the center of the crown is opened. Skeletal branches are cut to external lateral branches. Increasing the access of light to the center of the crown and shortening the branches stimulate the awakening of dormant buds on the bare parts of the skeletal branches. As a result, semi-skeletal and small fruit-bearing branches are formed on them, and after 2-3 years the fruiting zone shifts deeper into the crown. After this, the height is reduced again to 3.5-4.5 m.