Now I am not running an orchard in my yard, but I would like to know how to shape my two apple and two peach trees. They are about 5' tall, planted last year. The peach trees bloomed, but the apples did not. All grew vigorously. If there is a site or book that I can use, please let me know.

There are many peach orchards here in Greenville County, SC, so I have a general idea about the peach trees, but nothing about the apples. I understand about managing the trees for proper growth and having to shape them so that the fruit does not damage the trees with it weight. They are freestone peach and rome apple.

 

Hi chfite, Welcome to DIYs Garden Forum

If you will let me know if they are Dwarf, Semi Dwarf, or Full sized Apple trees. I will point you in the right direction, for both trimming and Branch spreading & shaping if needed.

Although we grow the Antique trees, I have worked many summers during Horticulture School in the Orchards, & to make a little extra $

You are right in starting now, as any fruit tree will do much better if shaped right from the start.

Marturo

 

The apples are Rome Beauty Apple. Not much help on the tag, that was all that was on it. Do you suppose that the nursery where I bought them could tell me if they are dwarf, semi-dwarf, or full size?

 

Do you suppose that the nursery where I bought them could tell me if they are dwarf, semi-dwarf, or full size?

Yes I do. Do you have the recipet with the product #s?

You try and find out, if not we will just gather all the pruning methods. Good luck on your task.

Marturo

 

chfite I have a few sites that will show some of the various ways to prune Fruit trees. The main difference in the full size trees vrs, the Dwarf & Semi Dwarf is the amount of suckers & dead wood you have to remove as they get bigger.

http://www.treesofantiquity.com/

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~dailey/byfg.html

http://www.pollinator.com/pollenizer_pollinator.htm

http://web.simmons.edu/~byer/fruitree/frulinks.html

Marturo

 

Thanks for the links. I just got back from the nursery. The nurseyman said that the apples I bought are semi-dwarf.

 

Hi chfite,

Ok that's what I was hoping to hear. We are in process of finding good links for a French method, that moves fruit production into the stronger part of the tree.

One gripe I have heard about the Semi Dwarf trees is, "The fruit breaks the limbs off" the problem of having Fruit out at the ends of the limbs.

From what I have read of the French method, I believe it offers a pruning method that will cause Fruit to bear in the stronger areas of the trees. Our trees will suffer less stress, under load this way.

Please give us a little time to round these links up, I believe we will go to this method on all our Semi Dwarfs on the farm this year. Limb breakage is no big deal on a full size tree, however it is something that can kill a Semi or Dwarf tree.

Marturo

 

Hi chfite

I found this link so you could get started with studing the summer pruning method. Winter pruning has been used by the methods we all learned, Comercial Apple methods are used for maximum production.

Having the Semi Dwarf gives us a chance to shape this tree in many ways that better suite our space needs. I have not tried this method yet, I may give it a try in conjunction with winter pruning & desuckering.

Don't forget your Dormant oil spray anytime now, I started using Neem oil instead of plain oil, & have seen a big reduction in overwintering bugs.

This year we have the long awaited Surround, a Colloidal clay Fruit tree spray, product that saves having to use many of the very dangerous Chemicals, used before to control many Blights, viruses, & bugs.

http://www.berkeleyhort.com/gardensu...eepruning.html
__________________________________________

 

Hi Chifte,
To add to what has already been said here, if you go to the Useful Garden Links sticky that Marturo and I compiled, there should be some information about pruning there as well

 

I found it interesting in the discussion about fruit being borne out of reach, that the berekely site recommended cutting a semi-dwarf off knee high when planted to make it bear closer to the ground.

 

I have grown & pruned Apple & other Fruit trees from NY to FLA & everytime, I pruned them in their dormant period.

To say that the concept is of no benefit would be silly, because I can see a benefit for some back yard growers, with space problems.

Some apples have very few suckers( Water spouts) & I have cut the center out of them to allow more sun in, and drying out sooner. On the trees with a lot of suckers, I take out all suckers & dead wood then thin the tree out for more sunlight.

In the end we have to make the decision, as to what method we will use. A new yellow container of Tree wound dressing & I'm ready to trim, with sharp saws & clean sharp trimmers.

We have 13 antique Apple trees & not a one looks like another their all different, the Chenango Strawberry has a fat short stem & long tall limbs. A real lesson in trimming a tree, by it's nature I guess.

Marturo

 

Hello chfite,

Have you made any desicions yet?

I decided to continue with late Winter early Spring for dead wood removal & primary shaping.

Summer pruning could be dangerious to the tree. There is a debate going around as the World turns. To use tree wound dressing on cuts & damaged areas on a tree.

Since the world is filled with Experts, who need to reinvent the wheel every so often. Why can't I have my say?

For over 30 years, I have faithfully covered any cut or repair with the tree wound dressing, just as I use a bandaid & salve to protect myself. I just think it's common sense.

The best tip I ever got on pruning, was to use quality sharp tools.

 

One of the trees was orignally cut off knee high. The other does not look that way at all. Spring is coming. I am going to cut the second tree off the same height as the first. The first tree has only one new branch that came up last year. The other branches are continuations of what was there before. My temptation is to head them back, the way I have done with my fig trees, in order to keep the main growth closer to the ground.

I haven't gottn the oil yet. This weekend, I am off.

 

Good plan Chris, I have had the best luck with that type using the open center method. Sun inside for less fungal problems, & it also helps the fruit ripen better.

Good luck with your task, I wish I remembered the name of the salve I know it comes in a yellow plastic bottle with brush inside.

Tree wound & pruning dressing. Keep us up on your progress.

 

Speaking of the apple and peach trees... How difficult is it to get apple trees started by using the seeds from store bought apples??? I did get a peach tree started by this method and last year I had success with peaches. not many but there was more than I had expected. and what about oranges and grapefruit.. is it possible to get seeds to sprout from the seeds of these fruits... I've been saving the seeds and I want to plant them to see if they will grow.... any advice???

 

C'mon you know I'm kidding

I have come across so many buy um grafted or DIY Grafying of your own Apple trees. I think I have an answer for you.

Apple trees for Farm or Backyard are designed to do what the Root Stock, let's it do with it's own natures blended in.

All this means is No, you can't really expect an apple seed to do more than produce half of the equation. The seed could become the root stock or the fruit producing half.

Apple trees are the ultimate DIYers Fruit tree. With one of these 6 root stocks grafted to a scion of an Apple tree Grandma had forever, you could make so many tree habits.

It sounds chalanging, as there are groups who trade & sell the makings, for you to graft a new tree that may not be available to a buyer.

Why not do a search with Google for ( Grafting Apple scion wood ) We want a search for how to start an Apple & then grow it to when you can graft it to a Dwarf root stock or a semi Dwarf.

It would be interesting to find out if your seedling could be used.

Marturo

 

well, being I don't know much about apples and trees other than all the fig trees that grow around here.. I'm gonna try again to see if I can get apples to grow from these seeds... I didn't think I'd get a peach tree to grow either but I did.. and you know what... I pruned the top center limb out of that peach tree and I quickly planted the cut portion in the ground way deep down in the ground and the limb is still green and there are buds on it... now I have two peach trees if it continues to grow and flowers.. Only time will tell... and the fig trees.... no matter how much I cut back on those trees they come right back... and they are so easy to transplant and get new trees... don't know about the oranges and grapefruit.. but. I'm gonna try that too. I'll let you know what happens come summer...

 

glorifiedlily, why not plant that seedling, after all. Where did all the Apple Trees come from but from seeds. They could be breeding Apples so what you have is a Hybrid seed.

I don't know about Citrus. Do you see any grown outdoors? I had an Advacado tree that was 13 feet tall when I gave it to a friend for her Birthday.

Sometimes it's fun to just start seeds from something we bought at the market. Some will grow that would amaze you, like when we bought some fresh green Thai Lemon Grass for cooking a Thai dish.

I took a handful of the Lemmon Grass & it rooted, I have to separate it into 4 sections this Spring. Can you imagine the money I have saved on fresh Lemon Grass from Tailand?

So who's to say what you can grow, if you try something different. I grow Ephedra or MaHaung, the Legal Herb that has no leaves & people have misused so that the Government is thinking of banning it( Diet pills & Zoom eye opener). Since it is safer than sudafed X 10 & when used right, can be verry useful it pays to grow things like that also.

We don't talk often about growing our own herbal Meds. It could come in handy in the future to grow some potent herbal Meds to heal yourself.

 

Well as we speak,, I have started a sprouting route to see if it works.... I dampened a folded paper towel and placed the seeds onto that and covered the container with plastic wrap. and have them infront of a west window under a lamp light... time will tell... I'm also trying one apple seed the hydroponic way... I'm using a bottle of water, a shoe string and a straight pin to hold the seed intack while the shoe lace brings the water up to the seed... time will tell.. I still have purple wave petunias left from last summer that still has flowers on it.. I placed that out in the sun just a while ago.... The sun is nice and bright here.. just like an early warm spring day... Time will tell... Hey.. I do have an onion growing from a store bought onion and it's looking good!! Just remember one thing.. I am not a true bonefide gardener.. but I'm trying.. Have a good day!!!