Two of my apple trees are on M29 root stock and we’re sold to me as dwarfs. This is their second year and they are now over 8 ft tall. I would like to stop them at this height but they are in a growth spurt. They’re trained as central leaders and the branches are pulled down to help with fruiting as they are medium chill in low chill sub tropics. We are in our fall at the moment in sub tropical Australia.
A couple of questions!
The Gala goes straight to its apex while the Granny Smith bent over at right angles naturally some time ago but with this new growth is heading upwards again. How do I stop their vertical growth on the central leaders ???
Both trees have extended outwards and upwards with the branches. Is this a problem or should I be straightening the ends perhaps with splints?
There is quite a bit of vertical growth on the branches. What should I be doing with this?
Thanks for that link Mark. I followed through with it and the several others that it contained and now feel that I have some idea of where I am going with the trees.
I have had every thing on both trees pulled horizontal since they were planted but both trees seem to want to go higher with new growth at the top. It doesn’t seem that they are keen to accept the limitations I am trying to place on them. Of course, in my nativity, I didn’t realise just how big apple trees grew and even though they are on dwarfing root stock they have the potential to become large trees unless controlled.
I have read somewhere that the central leader will at some stage be turned horizontal and I imagine that this is to try and stop the vertical vigour. So I may try that and also take the vertical growth off the branches or bend it horizontal.
Thanks again for your advice.
