I have family asking me what I want for Christmas… I do need some limb spreaders.
What do you think about the ones (link below) from fedcoseeds ? They look ok to me.
Do you know of others that are better ?
Are you asking for anything fruit growing related for Christmas ?
If you are you might give some ideas.
Thanks
TNHunter
Looks like they would fall off if there any hard wind. I had some from Stark Bros that had some points in it that made them more stable since they actually dug into the tree a little bit. They stayed pretty much in place unless there was a really big wind storm. Then a few would fall off.
Be sure to get different lengths.
In the installation instructions it says this…
This is a … Bundle of 12 spreaders: three 6", three 8", three 12", three 16".
I have several new trees … started the last couple years (new orchard at new home site).
I may need 2 or 3 of these packs of these limb spreaders.
Thanks
TNHunter
Okay, good that it has some sharp edges. The photo did not seem to show that very well. Yes, get different lengths as Masbustelo suggested. When I got the ones from Stark Bros I bought different lengths. They are plastic.
You always need " another size" when you start putting them on. The ones from Stark were okay. They seemed to do their job. Once the limbs get a certain size or stiffness they are harder to push down or spread.
I hope they do their job for you.
Glad you asked. I need some too. Wish I find it locally but it appears to just be the same cheap junk made in China.
These are on sale for $16.99 right now.
This below gives me an ideal of trying to just make my own with some this pipe of heavy duty gauge steel wire.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/20-Fruit-Tree-Branch-Limb-Spreader-Reuseable-Wire-for-Garden-Branch-Spreader/5486770076?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101176582
Not even sure how these work. But I’d prefer not to use wood products in wet weather.
The best to buy are probably treeform V-spreaders. I like simple and easy myself… I havent used them but as far as i can tell they last forever and just do what they are supposed to.
The lathing interests me… not saying its the best but same concept. And more user friendly for stone fruits.
Stretchy bands are also very interesting to me… i think i can pull something easy off with some bungee cords i have laying around.
I got these ideas here… sort of pedantic but i learn that way.
I just ordered the ones from Stark Bros. Will let you know the quality soon. I’d prefer galvanized but these have a v shape I’m hoping works without having to gauge the bark.
Got the spreaders. They seem to work out pretty good. Put on very easily and hold because the sharp points in the middle. With shipping the package was about $29.80. Which is a little absurd for plastic but what isn’t nowadays. As long they work I’m happy.
I really like the ones I got from “SouthlandSunandShade” on Etsy. They worked well for me last year.
Those look good I was going to make something like that but I do like the point on these Stark Bros. Seems to work good!
I do like the little notches on the sides of yours though to be able to tie it on the limbs. Might be better than sticking the point in no open wounds.
I use limb spreaders as part of my nursery-orchard keeper business, and the plastic ones suck IMO. The Tre-form spreaders work fine even if they occasionally get blown loose here. You just need to make sure you force the point into the wood and if you can’t get the right angle, augment it by using some electric tape wrapped around spreader and limb.
Once in a while I need to spread a really thick limb- too thick to use even a doubled up tre-form spreader (a method I often use, i also sometimes tape a piece of straight strong apple wood from a water sprout to a TF spreader to make it strong, leaving the very tips free of wood and tape.)
If I’m spreading a very long and thick branch that requires a hinge of many cuts I will fashion a spreader out of a sapling with a nice codominant split at the top to hold it to the branch and cutting a v into the base that I augment with electric tape. Always electric tape. I believe I’m a master at spreading branches at this point.
Wounds from nails or metal into any species I’ve grown have never once been a problem of importance to the tree. You can also use dow wood and insert nails at both ends.
I like the ones from Isons. Others carry the same thing. @Plants found the same ones. I think they work wonderfully and I’ve had mine for 4 years - and still using them.
And I do the ‘water bottle weight’ thing too. (see @krismoriah post)
I put an electric tie around the neck - tight - with another one connected to that, as a loop. Then hang it from a branch with a piece of those green soft ties. (I love that stuff!)
Im sure these have been talked about at some point… any cons to these?
Im going to have to try this… its right up my alley as a hobbyist and trial and error fruit grower. Im thinking there has to be a use for all the bottles and jugs etc that folks throw in the trash… maybe this is it.
Im going to have to come up with something simple and easy for the branch end of the weight jugs… May just use duct tape doubled up and punch holes in it… that would work i think…and make a strap out of duct tape.
I just placed a few of mine on today but really like them. Seems to work plus they’re made in USA which I like.
I almost used some of these brackets we use to place above ceilings to mount electric boxes on for lighting. They come in 10”&12” and can stretch out up to a few feet depending on which ones you get. A screw holds them tight. Just figured I’d put that out there for ideals.
@krismoriah … that first pic you showed above… that is what I ended up getting.
They dont require any penetration of the tree bark…and sure look like they give you good control of limb bending.
I remember seeing a pic that Auburn posted a few years back and he was using those.
I am going to try those out.
TNHunter
In 30 years of branch spreader use for the first 10 I wouldn’t use them on stone fruit because of the resin ooze caused by both types of spreaders I was using- one was sticks with nails at the ends an the other the Tre-Form ones. Now that I’ve been spreading peach branches with Tre-form spreaders for the last 20 I can assure anyone that listens that any wounds created are temporary and those of us like Olpea who deal with hundreds of trees also cut hinges in branches to spread them- deep cuts in the underside of the branches. They heal stronger than they were before the wounds. The trick is all about keeping trees vigorous.
I have taken chances over the years to figure out what methods work best- hell, the first squirrel baffles I installed I used roofing nails right into the trunks of peach trees- a peach tree without fruit is worthless.
Fortunately, I figured out that staples into the trunks work just as well for holding up the roofing coil cylinders I construct. What can injure a tree grievously is when I paint the baffles with oil and grease and it flows in the hot sun onto the trunks. I’ve even killed a plum tree and injured many others before I realized my mistake. Now I often build the baffles from the ground up to no grease gets on the trunks no matter what.
You learn from mistakes, not by being excessively cautious.
Yes, I believe I’ve tried those and that one cannot properly control the angle. Unless you are pulling branches to a weep you probably want about a 70 degree angle so the branches don’t drop to the ground with fruit weight. Same deal with using weights.
