Sparsely layered system of crown formation. Basic shapes of crowns, order and technique of pruning, formation of the crown of a young tree. Apple tree crown shapes
To prevent early thickening of the crown, first of all you should not lay more main branches than is predetermined by the crown formation system.
When pruning trees with high shoot-forming capacity, avoid shortening the branches. The main type of pruning in this case is cutting out entire branches (thinning). When forming crowns on trees characterized by pyramidal growth, cuts should be made above the outer buds or lateral branches oriented towards the periphery of the crown.
It’s even better to first make a cut on the inner bud (twig), and next year - on the outer twig located below the cut made last year. The first, more or less large, branches on the main branches should not be located closer than 50-60 cm from their bases.
Each major branch must have its own development sector. All its branches extending beyond this sector should be cut off to transfer to a branch growing in the right direction (in its sector). In places where there is no space for the growth of new branches, shoots must be broken off. If this has not been done, you need to cut out the thickening branches into a ring or trim them into a weak branch.
Formation of a sparse-tiered crown
The sparsely tiered crown finds the most wide application in all fruit growing zones. It is formed from 5-7 branches of the first order and approximately the same number of branches of the second order.
In the lower part of the crown, two adjacent or close branches are placed, and the third is placed at a distance of 15-30 cm from them; a tier of three close branches is also allowed. Subsequent branches are placed singly around the trunk, if there are five branches in total, or a second tier is created from two branches and another 1-2 branches are placed singly ( rice. 32)
In the south and in middle lane the distance between tiers is set for varieties with a wide crown 60-80 cm, and for vigorous varieties with a raised crown - 80-100 cm. In more severe natural conditions these intervals are reduced to 50-60 cm.
Branches of the second order are laid only on the three lower branches, no more than two on each.
In the spring of the first year, the annual plant is pruned to a height of up to 70 cm; in the summer, shoots below 40 cm are pruned. In the spring of the second year, branches that are not used are cut into a ring to form the crown. The skeletal branches are shortened annually at the same level, while removing 1/3 - 1/5 of the annual growth, and the central conductor is 25 cm above the top of the lateral branches.
The main branches must be subordinate to the conductor. As for the branches of the second order, they should not compete with the branches of the first order, and the lower main branches should be thicker than the upper ones.
You should strive to ensure that the branches of the first tier are equally developed. In the first few years, it is necessary to regulate the development of the main branches by shortening, bending or tightening the drooping ones; move them to the top or bottom direction, to the right or to the left.
You should always strive for minimal pruning, but it is best to use techniques to control the growth and direction of branches, such as bending, bending and warping. The crown is also formed and trees are pruned depending on the characteristics of the group of varieties.
Methods for attaching branches when changing the angle of inclination are shown in the figure ( rice. 30)
Rice. 30. Methods of fastening branches when changing the angle of inclination: 1 - wire staples; 2 - initial position of the branches (dotted line); 3 - spacers; 4 - garter of branches to the trunk; 5 - garter of strongly deviated branches; 6 - garter to the lower branches; 7 - garter to stakes; 8 - garter to the guide rails
It is better to install supports and use fastenings for crowns in advance, but not later than the time when the fruits of the apple tree reach the size walnut or when the branches, under the weight of the fruit, deviate from their original position by 20-30 cm.
The supports can be replaced with an umbrella support: all branches that are in danger of breaking off are tied to a pole 4-5 m high, installed in the middle of the crown, with twine or wire. It is recommended to construct supports in the spring, before flowering.
Formation of overgrowing branches
All branches developing on the main branches of the second order are turned into fruit branches by summer pinching, as well as by spring shortening before blossoming. Shoots that have a horizontal direction are not shortened ( rice. 31).
Rice. 3Formation of overgrowing branches (the dashes show the location of pruning depending on the nature of the branching)
Branches shortened by 6-8 buds produce 2-3 shoots, and the following year they are shortened by 5-8 buds.
Within 2-3 years, these branches turn into fruit branches. The inclination of the branches also speeds up the onset of fruiting. To bend 2-3 year old branches, it is best to use the deformation method, that is, bending until the wood cracks.
Have you planted a garden, but don't know how to prune? Have you bought a cottage with old trees and want to rejuvenate them? Don't know what cutting pattern to use? fruit trees apply in spring? Confused about terms and rules? If the answer to at least one question is yes, you have come to the right place. Especially for you, we have collected information from books on gardening and added recommendations to it. experienced gardeners, brought everything into a readable form, attached photos and video materials. Read and learn with us!
Any pruning is an injury to the tree. The type and quality of the tool determines how quickly the fruit crop will recover. The smoother the cut, the faster the plant will recover.
- a garden knife is the main tool;
- hacksaw - for cutting thick, old branches;
- pruner
Get used to using a garden knife
Although pruners cut branches with ease, they compress the wood, which increases the time for wounds to heal.
- rejuvenating;
- sanitary:
- formative.
Let's look at them in more detail during the article.
Crown formation scheme
The formation of the crown of fruit trees begins in the second year of life and lasts several years. Any pruning scheme will be difficult if the branches are not positioned correctly. In Russia, the two most common methods are: sparsely tiered and without tier.
Let's consider the first: it is simple, accessible to novice gardeners and suitable for all types of fruit trees.
The first, lower tier is formed in the nursery, this makes the work of a novice gardener easier. When planting a seedling, you need to cut off all branches by 1/3. Root system is damaged when dug up, and such pruning promotes the harmonious development of the plant. How soon after planting should you start forming the crown?
In the first year, a young fruit tree adapts to new conditions, roots develop, and therefore growth is small. In the second year, shoot growth will also be insignificant. From the third year after planting, start forming the crown.
In a sparsely-tiered system, the crown of a fruit tree consists of a central trunk and 5-6 branches located on at different levels. On the right side schematic drawing the structure is visible: each branch of the next tier is located in the middle of the angle formed by the lower branches. See the distance between tiers on the left side of the image.
| Term | What does it mean |
|---|---|
| Fruit tree trunk | The section of the trunk between the root collar and the first branch |
| Center conductor | The section of the trunk from the first lower branch to the top |
| Escape | A twig growing from last year's bud |
| Tops | Shoots growing vertically and reaching a length of up to 2 meters |
| Escape Rival | A strong branch growing from a lateral bud located slightly above last year's growth |
| Pincing | Manipulation aimed at stopping shoot growth. To do this, pinch off the top with 2-3 leaves. |
| Fat shoots | Strong tops at the bases of branches that appear when the tree ages or is improperly pruned. |
Anti-aging pruning: how to do it right
If orchard characterized by the predominance of old trees over 30 years old - a decrease in yield is observed. In this case, it is necessary, which is carried out according to the following scheme:
- Inspect the tree for dying branches.
- At their base, select strong fatty shoots.
- Step back 1-2 cm from the base of the fatty shoot and cut off (cut down) the drying branch.
- Cover the cut area with garden varnish.
It is advisable to have not one, but several strong shoots near the pruning site: then the wound will heal faster. To prevent the shoots from growing too much, you need to tweezing.
that the process of rejuvenation of an old fruit tree should take place gradually.
If you remove all the dying branches at once, the tree may wither. Therefore, experts recommend extending rejuvenation over 4 years, performing it in parts. The formation of the crown in the future is the same as for young tree.
Sanitary pruning of fruit trees - what you need to know
Sanitary pruning is carried out annually in the fall. Its purpose is to remove dried or diseased branches.
Rules for this type of pruning:
- remove shoots above the outer bud, skeletal branches - onto the ring;
- cut off diseased and dry branches with the healthy part;
- if the branch is located vertically, make an oblique cut;
- After completing pruning, lubricate all wounds with garden varnish or other putty.
In fact, sanitary pruning is partly rejuvenating, partly shaping. The technique and rules are the same.
When and how to prune an apple tree
The answer to the question of which month to prune an apple tree depends on its age. If the tree is young, prune in the spring, before the buds open. The time depends on the region - approximately early to mid-March. For an adult tree, in which the movement of sap and swelling of the buds occurs earlier, winter pruning is carried out at the end of February.
Rules to follow:
- make sure that the thickness of the branches that extend from the conductor is not more than 1/2 the diameter of the trunk;
- branches that are too thin are also unacceptable;
- the angle of departure is 40 0 (it can be corrected, look at the picture);
- in the lower tier there are no more than 3-4 branches with a divergence angle of at least 90 0.
Conclusion
The following literature on pruning was used in this article:
- Kolesnikov E.V. ‘Advice to gardeners’ - Moscow: Rosselkhozizdat, 1972 - p.152;
- Videnov B.M., Kovachev G.T., Manov S.L. 700 tips for the amateur gardener - 1972.
Sparsely tiered crown- the most common round shape in our country. It is used for all tree fruit species of the temperate zone, with the exception of peach. Combines tiered and single arrangement of skeletal branches on the central conductor. Developed by the famous Soviet fruit grower P. S. Gelfandbein.
The number of skeletal branches depends on planting density, tree growth strength, and branching. When plants are placed relatively densely in rows (less than 4 m), four to five main branches are formed, in more sparse gardens - five to seven. Vigorous trees are grown with a large number of skeletal branches. Their number also increases in weakly branching varieties and breeds with spreading crowns.
Skeletal branches can be placed on the trunk in different ways (Fig. 35). The first two or three are always arranged in a tier. For sweet cherries (weakly branching varieties) and wide-crowned varieties of other species, lower tiers of four branches are allowed as an exception. Above the first tier, a tier of two branches and one or two single branches are laid. The crown can also consist of only one tier and three or four single skeletal branches.
The distance between tiers in vigorous trees is from 60-80 (varieties and species with wide crowns) to 80-100 cm (pyramidal crowns), in dwarf trees after 40-50 cm. Single branches are placed in the first after 50-80 cm, in the second - 30-40 cm. If in the horizontal projection the skeletal branch is located in the middle of a very wide angle of divergence, it can be placed much closer to the one below - 20-40 cm. When mechanized harvesting of fruits with vibration machines, the interval between the lower tier and the skeletal branch growing above should be in all in cases, be at least 50-60 cm. This makes it easier to install the vibrator grip on the barrel.
With a relatively sparse placement of trees in rows (more than 4) on branches lower tier form two (less often three) skeletal branches of the second order. In the southern regions of the country, with strong growth of trees and weakly branching varieties of cherries, apricots, apples and pears, third-order skeletal branches are sometimes produced. With a denser planting on the main branches, a group of two or three semi-skeletal branches no more than 1-1.5 m long is left at a distance of 40-80 cm from one another. Second-order skeletal branches are not formed in such plantings.
The sparsely layered crown is limited at a height of 3.5-4 m from the ground. Upper part the central conductor is removed above the last skeletal branch, which must have an inclination of at least 45-60°.
Improved-tiered crown, like the previous one, it combines tiered and single placement of skeletal branches, but has a larger number of main branches - 8-10. The following options are possible: 1) lower tier of three to four skeletal branches + tier of two to three branches + two single skeletal branches; 2) a tier of three or four skeletal branches + a tier of two or three branches -\- a tier of two skeletal branches + one or two single branches.
The distance between tiers in vigorous trees is 80-100 cm, between single skeletal branches 40-60 cm. On the branches of the first (less often the second) tier, second-order branches are usually left every 40-50 cm. This crown form is used mainly for species with a pyramidal habit - pears and cherries.
 Rice. 36. Vase-shaped crown |
Vase-shaped crown(cauldron-shaped, vase, bowl) - leaderless formation, used in peach orchards (Fig. 36). Skeletal branches (three, less often four) are arranged close together, in a tier, on a short trunk (40-50 cm). The central conductor is cut out immediately, at the beginning of the formation of the tree. The main branches have two second-order branches and four third-order branches. The ends of the latter are located approximately at the same horizontal level. The distance from the base of the uterine branch to the second-order branching is 40-50 cm. Approximately the same interval from the first to the second branching of the main branch.
Modification of a vase-shaped crown - improved vase-shaped. It usually consists of four skeletal branches of the first order, which are arranged in a sparse layer - 15-20 cm from one another. On the sides of the main branches, at intervals of 40-50 cm, several subordinate skeletal branches of the second order are produced.
In Southern Europe and Australia, this system is used to sometimes form not only peach trees, but also apple, plum, and apricot trees. In such breeds, the central conductor is cut out no earlier than the 3-4th year of the growing season. Otherwise, the upper skeletal branch takes a vertical position, acting as a leader.
Russian spindle crown Suitable for growing early-fruiting, low-growing apple tree varieties on seed rootstocks in the middle zone. Like the previous formation, it consists of frequently located semi-skeletal branches, but their length is limited to 1.5 m. The lower branches are placed elevated (inclination angle 55-60°), the upper ones are horizontal. Two shallow vertical openings are made in the crown on the row-spacing side, which make caring for the tree easier.
Bushy crown proposed by Professor V.I. Budagovsky for the formation dwarf trees apple trees It consists of six to eight main branches with fairly wide angles of departure, of which the lower three or four are arranged in a tier, the upper ones - singly. Skeletal branches of the second order are not displayed. Growth is shortened only in the first 2-3 years after planting. In the future, until the construction of the skeleton is completed, the crown is only thinned out, removing competitors, fattening shoots, rubbing and intertwining branches.
Low-standard bush-like crown used in regions of Siberia for frost-resistant local varieties, less often - semi-cultivars. Characterized by a very low trunk (20-30 cm). In some. cases it is not laid down. Five or six or three to five (low-trunked version) skeletal branches of the first order are formed on the trees. The lower branches (2-3) can be placed in a layer, the rest - sparsely. In areas with stable snow cover, the absence of a trunk and the short length of the trunk guarantee rapid recovery of plants after harsh winters.
Stlantsevo - bush-like crowns used in the same place as the previous system. They make it possible to obtain very low-growing, squat trees. The Krasnoyarsk stylized-bush crown (author Z. S. Vorobey), very characteristic of this group of formations, does not have a trunk. At the very surface of the soil, it branches into three or four short horizontal arms (up to 30 cm), each with one vertical branch.
Semi-flat crowns. In horizontal projection, these formations form a geometric figure close to a wide ellipse. The fruit walls that form the rows of such trees are 3-3.5 m thick. In terms of the ease of formation of semi-crowns, the crowns are close to round. At the same time, they are more convenient for maintenance, including for mechanized pruning and harvesting.
Semi-flat shaping V. G. Kuzhelenko developed for plum and apricot. The crown has three tiers and ends with a single branch. The tiers consist of two branches. The distance between them is 50-60 cm. In the interval between the first and second tier, all branches are removed to facilitate the grip of the trunk by the vibrator boom during mechanized harvesting. The lower skeletal branches are directed into the row spacing at an angle of 15-20° (to the row line) in opposite directions. The second tier is formed similarly, but the branches are oriented in a different direction, so in horizontal plane the first four branches form a figure resembling the letter X. The branches of the third tier are placed above the row.
To make it easier for fruit harvesting machines to maneuver, the plants in the gardens will be arranged in a system similar to a checkerboard pattern. In addition, in the same row, the branches of the first tier of all trees should be parallel, and in neighboring ones they should have the opposite orientation.
The Ukrainian Research Institute of Irrigated Horticulture has developed a semi-flat crown, recommended for apple and pear trees grafted onto seed and medium-sized clonal rootstocks. Consists of 5-6 skeletal branches with angles of inclination of at least 45-50°. They are placed in the plane of the row or at an angle of no more than 10-15° to the line of the fruit wall. The main branches are usually placed in tiers, two in each. The intervals between tiers for vigorous trees are 90-100 cm, for medium-sized trees - 70-90 cm. In the upper tiers they can be placed sparsely, the distance between the bases of branches is 15-25 cm. It is also permissible to remove single skeletal branches. On the main branches, semi-skeletal branches are formed every 20-30 cm. The width of the fruit wall at the base of the crown is from 2.5 (for medium-sized trees) to 3.5 m (for vigorous-growing trees).
The crown is formed by annual shortening of the central conductor. Shoots of continuation of the main branches are pruned only in weakly branching varieties. The angle of inclination of the main branches is increased by spacers and cutting for translation. Semi-skeletal branches are formed by thinning out the lateral branches on the main branches: vertical and bottom-growing growths are removed, and the lateral ones are thinned out by 20-30 cm on each side of the branch.
For sparsely-tiered crown characterized by strength and stability, low crowding of branches, good lighting 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. The vase-shaped crown is usually formed in light-loving plants. fruit crops in the version 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 inside skeletal branches should be removed regularly. The center of the crown should always be open to sun rays, it must 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 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.
In the best possible way Suitable for creating a spindle-shaped crown are those varieties of fruit crops that have high bud activity, a moderate tendency to grow and branch, and branches that 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 early autumn shoots longer than 60 cm are bent to a horizontal position and tied to a trunk or to stakes driven obliquely into the ground. in spring 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, cut at a height of 30-40 cm from the soil surface in such a way as to obtain 3 lateral 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 metal cylinder a metal 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 stand, 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 correct location It is now used exclusively in decorative gardening. Modern palmettes have become much simpler compared to classic palmettes, the requirements for the formation of palmettes have been significantly simplified, it is easier to place the main skeletal branches and to form overgrowing ones. Form gardening is much more intensive than growing trees with natural crowns and requires more knowledge and practice. Formal gardening includes many techniques: detailed pruning, tying up shoots, and changing special techniques such as banning, twisting, and girdling branches.
Of the fruit crops in molded gardening, the most commonly used are apple and pear trees, and much less frequently stone fruit tree species. 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 views palmettes have become significantly simpler 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 espalier 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 a tree, ease of caring for the tree crown and harvesting. Most significant shortcomings are the labor intensity of crown formation, according to some information, a delay in fruiting, and a slow increase in harvest volume.
