We have spent some of this weekend (mid February) pruning
our apple trees. It was rather wet and cold on Saturday when we held the Master
Class (led as usual most ably by Jan Lambourn) but we had 10 “students” who
braved the weather and hopefully enjoyed the morning in the orchard. During the
afternoon we visited the walled garden at Barrow Green (run most productively
by Linda Boakes and Rick Meakin to whom we owe our thanks) where we tackled a
very ancient pair of espalier apple trees. 
In our Orchard, most trees are growing well, with just a
couple showing signs of canker (which had to be pruned out of course) In fact
the amount of wood removed was pretty minimal for some trees……others like the
Bramley Seedling needed quite large branches removing. The aim is to keep the
centre open, to remove any diseased and crossing branches and to ensure growth
remains balanced over the whole tree. Fruit buds are much in evidence on most
trees and so we hope that the Wassail will ensure a good fruit set following
the blossom and a good crop of apples. The pears were hardly touched at all. In
the summer we will reduce some of the tallest branches. Doing it then will
reduce the number of also watershoots.
This year we decided that some of the wiring of the deer
guards is inhibiting the natural growth so in some cases we have cut and bent
the wiring down to allow spread of the branches and avoid any rubbing. The
large stakes supporting the wiring will not last for ever….but the trees are
stronger now and hopefully can withstand a little deer nibbling should that
occur.
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