There are many types of crowns. However, in collective and home gardens for strong and medium-sized trees on seed rootstocks, the most common is sparsely layered. The sparsely-tiered crown ensures the strength of its skeleton, good illumination, and therefore high efficiency photosynthesis, tree productivity, ease of care.
The standard for apple and pear trees on seed rootstocks is 70-80 cm. The crown skeleton consists of 5-7 branches. Of these, two or three are formed in the first (lower) tier. Two are selected from shoots located through one bud, or better yet through two, the lower ones at a distance of about 10 cm from each other, and the third, upper one, -20 cm from them (so that the crowding of skeletal branches in the tier does not weaken the central conductor). The angles of departure of the skeletal branches are 45-50° to the vertical, and the angles of divergence between them (horizontally) are 120° and 180°.
The remaining skeletal branches are laid higher, evenly along the length of the trunk: the first of them - 50-60 cm from the upper branch of the first tier, on the opposite side from it (for varieties with a pyramidal and dense crown - after 80 cm).
The branches of the upper sparse tier are placed evenly around the trunk at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other. Moreover, their projections should be between the skeletal branches of the lower tier. For sparsely - tiered crown it is important that there are no fewer skeletal branches in the upper tier than in the lower one. In varieties with a naturally pyramidal crown, the number of skeletal branches in the upper sparse tier should be even greater than in the lower one (for example, if there are three in the lower one, then there are four in the upper one; if there are two in the lower one, then there are three in the upper one). In addition, it is necessary in different ways correct sharp corners branching off branches: using spacers, cutting to transfer, overlapping and braiding branches behind adjacent branches; also use hanging weights, ropes for pulling branches to lower branches, a standard (a clove hammered into it), neighboring trees, and pegs driven into the ground.
The skeletal branches of the lower tier are directed mainly towards the sides of the row spacing, but not more than 45° to the row line (so as not to interfere with the processing of the row spacing). And the branches of the upper tier are placed in all directions.
Skeletal branches of the second order (lateral, grown on skeletal branches of the first order, which extend from the trunk) form only in the lower tier - two or three on each skeletal branch and alternately on different sides, at a distance of 45-60 cm from the trunk and among themselves. Their opposite is unacceptable pair arrangement- this depresses the carrier branch, it becomes weaker than them and may wither.
In the upper tier, on the skeletal branches of the first order, one or two semi-skeletal ones are formed, since the skeletal branches of the second order in the upper tier exaggerate the crown. Some even recommend planting only overgrown branches on the skeletal branches of the upper tier.
Semi-skeletal branches (third order) about 1.5 m long are formed from lateral branches with angles of departure in the lower tier of 50-60 °, and in the upper tier - 70-80 °. They are given this angle by deviation. Branches of the third order are placed on the skeletal branches of the first and second orders and the trunk at intervals of 20-40 cm from the bases of the skeletal branches and among themselves. For densely crowned varieties - at a distance of 60-70 cm.
Overgrowing (fourth order) fruit branches 50-90 cm long should cover all skeletal, semi-skeletal branches and the trunk every 10-20 cm.
By sparse-tiered system form all pome and many stone fruits - with modifications.
When forming and pruning the crowns of all species, it is necessary to remember and observe following rules:
When pruning, close attention should be paid to the angles of branches. Their growth and fruiting, as well as the strength of fusion with the carriers, depend on this. Branches growing vertically and at sharp angles to the vertical grow intensively, but bear fruit poorly and do not grow firmly with their carriers. And branches growing close to the horizontal bear fruit abundantly, but grow poorly. This is also not always good, since a balance must be maintained between growth and fruiting. Optimal angle deviation - 50-60 °. True, there are nuances: for example, it is better to form the skeletal branches of the lower tier at an angle of 45-50 ° (this makes processing easier tree trunk circles), and semi-skeletal branches of the upper tier - 70-80 ° (so that the crown does not become too high and apical growth is inhibited, which is very intense in the branches of the upper tier).
When forming the crown, it is necessary to observe the law of subordination of branches of different orders and tiers between each other and the trunk: the thickness of the skeletal branches of the first order should be 0.6-0.8 of the thickness of the trunk at the point of fusion; the thickness of the skeletal branches of the upper tier should be approximately the same as the thickness of the first-order skeletal branches of the lower tier; skeletal branches of the second order - 0.6-0.7 times the thickness of their skeletal branches of the first order (they should be shorter by another 1-1.5 m); semi-skeletal branches - 0.5 thickness of their skeletal carrier branches. The tops of branches of higher orders should be lower than the tops of their carrier branches: for varieties with spreading and spherical crowns by 15-20 cm, for pyramidal ones - by 25-30 cm.
Sparsely tiered crown
The sparsely tiered crown is the most common rounded 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.
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 in different ways on the trunk. The first two or three are always arranged in a tier. For cherries (weakly branching varieties) and wide-crown varieties of other species, lower tiers of four branches are allowed as an exception. Above the first tier, a tier of two branches or single branches is laid. With a relatively sparse arrangement of trees in rows (more than 4 m), two (less often three) skeletal branches of the second order are formed on the branches of the lower tier. 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.
Technique for forming a sparse-tiered crown. When pruning an annual unbranched seedling, proceed as follows. The length of the trunk is measured, 6-7 buds are left above (the “crown zone”) for the development of future skeletal branches and continuation shoots, and a cut is made at this height. If there are shoots on the trunk, they are cut into a ring. In subsequent years, various methods of growth regulation are used. It may turn out that two shoots will grow in the “crown zone”. When the divergence angle is at least 90°, both are left; the next year the tier is supplemented with a third branch - on the opposite side of the two remaining branches. If there are more branches than necessary for formation, the worst of them are removed - the weak ones, those with sharp angles of departure or divergence. Three shoots with divergence angles close to 120° are left as the main branches of the first tier of the crown. If the angle of departure of one or two branches is less than 45°, it is corrected by placing a spacer; if the branch is drooping, it is tied to the trunk, giving desired angle. By changing the angles of inclination you can regulate the growth of branches.
The branches that are below the selected ones are removed to the ring. Those that are located between them are tied up, partly cut out, partly weakened by a short pruning of 4-6 buds - they are subsequently formed into overgrown fruit branches, and small branches extending from the conductor at a large angle (70-90°) are not cut and not shortened. If in the second year after planting the growths are weak, most of them are not shortened, limiting themselves to cutting out competitors, shoots growing inside the crown and not needed for the formation of the skeleton. If the competitor is better developed and better located than the continuation shoot, the latter is cut out, and the competitor becomes a conductor.
Improved-tiered crown
The improved-tiered crown combines tiered and single placement of skeletal branches, but has a larger number of main branches - 8-10. Other 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. This crown form is used mainly for species with a pyramidal habit - pears and cherries.
Whorled-tiered crown
One of the simplest, quickly formed systems is whorled-tiered. A significant disadvantage of such a crown is the fragility of the skeleton.
Cupped crown
Cup-shaped crown (cauldron-shaped, vase, bowl) - leaderless formation. Skeletal branches (three, less often four) are placed 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 endings of the latter are placed on approximately one horizontal level- 40-50 cm. Modification of the vase-shaped crown - improved cup-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. When this shaping is performed on apple, apricot, and plum trees, the central conductor is cut out no earlier than the 3rd or 4th year of the growing season. Otherwise, the upper skeletal branch takes a vertical position, acting as a leader.
Spindle-shaped or fusiform (spindlebush) crown
The form has several modifications. A very simple form - a Hungarian spindle-shaped bush. It ensures early fruiting and high yield of trees. The crown consists of a large number of first-order branches of a semi-skeletal type, which are given a horizontal position by gartering. It is best to lay the branches 1-4 buds apart from each other, placing them along the conductor evenly in a spiral. The main disadvantage of the crown is the hanging of the lower branches to the ground, which makes it difficult to care for the trunk and trunk circle.
The Russian spindle-shaped crown is 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 - horizontally. In this formation, it is possible to eliminate the hanging of the lower branches to the ground.
Artificial crown forms for the amateur garden.
Flat formations. Palmettes
Flat formations are divided into palmettes and cordons. Palmette (translated from French as pattern, ornament) is a crown in which all skeletal (or semi-skeletal) branches of the first order are located in the same vertical plane along the row line (Table 6). They can be directed upwards, obliquely and horizontally. Such formations are also called trellises, since they usually involve the installation of a support (a series of pillars along the row line with a corresponding number of rows of wire). Trees planted at a short distance from each other, with interlocking branches, form a continuous fruit wall (hedge). The light corridor for palmettes on seed and medium-growing rootstocks is 2.5 m, on low-growing ones - 2 m.
In the tiered palmette, the main branches are formed in the same way as in the Italian one, the branches of the second order grow freely; branches directed vertically or inside the crown are broken off in a green state. The first tier of the combined palmette is formed in the same way as the Italian one, and subsequent branches are placed according to the principle of a flat spindle at a distance of 20-40 cm. The Hungarian palmette is used for varieties that, when tilted horizontally, produce few fatty shoots. The branches of the lower tier are placed at an angle of 70°, the rest - at a right angle.
Italian (oblique) palmette
The crown of the oblique (Italian) palmette consists of 3-4 tiers of skeletal branches, two opposite in each. The branches of the first tier are the strongest. The growth force of the branches is regulated by changing the angle of inclination. The growth of branches towards row spacing is limited by transferring them to a lateral branch along the row line. Shaping is carried out by combining pruning with green operations. Some experts consider this molding to be unnecessarily complex and recommend using palmettes that are simpler in design.
Single tier palmette
Single-tiered palmette can be used for dwarf and semi-dwarf apple and pear trees. Using this system, it is also possible to form early-fruiting varieties of these breeds, grafted on medium-sized rootstocks. The crown consists of only one tier, including two skeletal branches with inclination angles of about 60°. On the central conductor above the tier, semi-skeletal and long overgrowing branches are placed at a distance of 15-20 cm from one another. Semi-skeletal branches must have a wide angle of departure - at least 60°. The central conductor is left without shortening. This causes the development of shoots with wide angles of departure. Semi-skeletal wood on skeletal branches is thinned out, leaving lateral branches every 15-20 cm. Long growths and branches are bent very rarely.
Free Palmette
This is the simplest variety of palmette, it can be done by a novice amateur gardener. It is better to form it on low-growing, weakly branching or medium-growing, but early-fruiting varieties of apple and pear trees.
Free palmette has several variants and is found under other names - free-growing, irregular, irregular, simplified. However, the differences between the modifications are small and concern only some details of the formation - the distances between tiers and branches, the number of skeletal branches and their inclination, the nature of the arrangement of semi-skeletal wood.
The central conductor, like other palmettes, is well defined. Skeletal branches can be placed on it either in tiers or individually. Possible various schemes crown construction: the two lower skeletal branches form a tier, the remaining three or four branches are single; two tiers of skeletal branches and two or three single branches; all main branches are single. Sometimes the crown is limited to two tiers of skeletal branches, and single branches are not left.
Free palmette forming technique. The crown consists of a central conductor and two or three tiers of paired skeletal branches. Two tiers of branches are laid in apple trees on medium-growing rootstocks, pear trees on vigorous rootstocks, three tiers - in trees on low-growing rootstocks.
The skeletal branches of the first tier are deflected from the conductor at an angle of 50-60°. In each subsequent tier, their angle of inclination is increased by 5-10° compared to the previous tier.
The distance between tiers for low-growing apple and pear trees is 50-60 cm, for apple trees on medium-sized rootstocks and pear trees on Caucasian pear - 70-90 cm. Above the first tier, single skeletal branches can be laid. In this case, they are placed more closely, 40 cm apart from each other, sometimes, especially the upper ones, 30 cm apart. In total, 4-6 skeletal branches are laid in the crown. The crown, as a rule, ends with a single deflected semi-skeletal branch, above which a central conductor is cut out.
For better attachment to the conductor, skeletal branches in a tier should be laid not from adjacent buds, but after 10-15 cm. The thickness at the base should be no more than half the diameter of the trunk below the point where the branch originates.
After planting, unbranched annual seedlings are cut 10 cm above the expected height of the first tier, making sure that there are 5-6 well-developed buds in the upper part. When planting seedlings with branches in the crown area, the strongest of them are oriented along the row (wall, fence) and shortened by half the length to the outer bud. In this case, the conductor is cut 15 cm above the ends of the side branches. If the side branches are very weak, they can be removed leaving a stump 0.3-0.5 cm long; strong growths are formed from the spare buds. It is always better to choose new ones from spare eyes over weak shoots. The branches in the trunk area are removed.
When the shoots reach a length of 20-30 cm, select two lateral ones, oppositely directed (future skeletal branches of the first tier), and a central shoot to continue the conductor. The remaining shoots are pinched.
The next year, if there are strong skeletal branches and a powerful conductor in the first tier, the latter is cut 10 cm above the intended laying level of the second tier. If the branches develop poorly, the conductor is cut in half to strengthen the first tier, and only a year later the second tier is laid.
Increments of skeletal branches are not shortened. However, if fouling is insufficient, it is necessary to shorten them by 1/3 of the growth length. During pruning, competitors of not only the central conductor, but also the conductors of the skeletal branches are removed.
The growth of skeletal branches is regulated, if possible, not by shortening, but by changing the angle of inclination. The weak branch is lifted and tied to the conductor, while the strong branch, on the contrary, is more deflected.
During the formation period (the first 4-5 years after planting), it is necessary to fill the crown with overgrowing wood of moderate growth vigor, so pruning is reduced to a minimum. The crown is thinned out only by removing strong branches located on the central conductor between the tiers and vertical shoots that are not necessary for the formation of the crown.
Carrying out summer operations (removing or bending “tops”, removing competitors of continuation shoots, standard and root shoots, pinching, bending the strongest vertical growths that cannot be removed) is very important for accelerating the formation of the crown and obtaining early harvests.
Combined palmette
The combined crown combines elements of a free palmette and a flat spindle. The first tier of two skeletal branches is laid at an angle of 50-60° from the vertical. Above it, evenly along the conductor in the plane of the row, semi-skeletal branches of moderate growth strength are placed with an angle of departure of 70-80°.
When forming flat pear crowns on quince, as well as in apple orchards on medium-sized rootstocks on shallow, moist soils, constant trellis support is required. In other cases, trees are grown on temporary support or without it.
Hungarian palmette
This formation is also called: Hungarian trellis, flat spindle. Trees in this form are a spindle-shaped bush, unfolded in one plane and adapted to a trellis support. First-order branches (semi-skeletal type) are evenly distributed along the trunk at a distance of 15-30 cm, sometimes less often, and tied to a trellis.
Several lower branches, in order to avoid their weakening, deflect the iodine at an angle of 60-70° from the vertical, the rest are tied horizontally or slightly elevated in varieties prone to the formation of fatty shoots (Wagner, Starkrimson, etc.).
To avoid exposing the conductor, it is shortened annually in weakly branching varieties (Wagner, Starkrimson) by 25-30 cm, in varieties with good branching (Renet Simirenko, Goldspur) - by 35-40 cm. In the fourth or fifth year after planting, the conductor is transferred to horizontal semi-skeletal branch.
During the fruiting period, the height of the trees is periodically reduced and the crown is limited from the sides so that it is wider at the bottom than at the top. The crown from the end should look like a truncated pyramid.
As the length of annual growth decreases to 20 cm, it is necessary to prune skeletal and overgrowing branches into 2-3-year-old wood (sometimes even 4-year-old wood).
fan palmette
The same flattened crown with five to six (up to eight) skeletal branches, which are placed evenly along the conductor, without tiers, 20-40 cm apart (the lower two branches are placed close together). The principles of formation are the same as for free palmette. The angle of deflection of the branches is from 50 to 75-80°. It is important to avoid weakening the lower branches, as with other types of palmettes.
This is a very beautiful shape and can be used for decorative purposes. Used in trellis dwarf plantings of weakly branching apple and pear varieties.
Semi-flat crown (plum, 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 in a similar way, but the branches are oriented in a different direction, so in the horizontal plane the first four branches form a figure resembling the letter X. The branches of the third tier are placed above the row.
A cordon is a strictly elongated trunk or several branches covered with short fruit branches, as if along a cord (hence the name). For uniform overgrowth of branches, not only spring, but also repeated summer pruning. Depending on the location of the trunk and branches, cordons can be vertical, inclined, or horizontal. When growing two branches on a short trunk, a two-armed cordon can be formed. Properly formed cordons look very beautiful in the home garden. In addition, due to the constant renewal of fruit formations on the cordons, high-quality fruits are obtained.
A vertical cordon consists of a vertical trunk covered with overgrowing wood. Annuals planted at a distance of 0.4-0.5 m from each other are crowned at a height of 0.3-0.4 m from the soil surface; subsequently, the shoot of the continuation of the conductor is shortened annually by 1/3 of the length, achieving its intensive growth and germination of buds on the part remaining after shortening. The development of unsprouted buds is achieved by kerbovka. Overgrowing wood is formed by pinching the side shoots when they reach a length of 20-25 cm. The growth of the cordon is suppressed after it reaches the desired height.
Oblique (oblique) cordon: seedlings planted at 0.5-0.6 m intervals are given an inclined position by planting them at an angle or by bending them at a height of 25-30 cm from the soil surface. The optimal angle of inclination, ensuring uniform coverage of it with overgrowing wood, is 30-45°. Formative pruning is similar to that previously described. A series of oblique cordons should be placed in the direction from north to south, if placed on a slope - with the tops towards its top.
Semi-flat crown of apple and pear trees
A semi-flat crown is 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. upper tiers they can be placed sparsely, the distance between the bases of the 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 ones). 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.
Bushy crown shape and multi-stemmed bush
Bush-like forms are suggested for use in difficult wintering conditions. These forms are suitable not only for stone fruit crops, but also for apple and pear trees. If the crown freezes under the snow cover, the base of the tree is preserved, from which the plant recovers.
A bushy crown has been proposed for the formation of dwarf 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, before the construction of the skeleton is completed, the crown is only thinned out, removing competitors, fattening shoots, rubbing and intertwining branches. A low-standard bush-like crown is used in the 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. 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.
Slate-bush crowns are used in the same place as the previous system. They allow you to get very low-growing, squat trees. The Krasnoyarsk shale-bush crown, 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.
The sparsely tiered crown of a tree is the look closest to the natural one. On the tree trunk, the branches are arranged in groups, that is, in tiers of two or three pieces, and individually.
Start forming with annual plant. True, only the part that grew from a grafted bud is annual. And the rootstock is already three whole years old. In the first year it grew from a seed (or from a cutting), in the second it took a graft, and in the third a yearling grew on it.
In early spring, measure 50 cm from the soil level on the tree. This will be the trunk area. It is undesirable to have a bole less than 50 cm, since subsequently the lower branches will interfere with caring for the garden: digging or loosening the soil, mowing the grass in gardens with turf, applying fertilizers, collecting tree litter, trimming branches. It is dangerous to leave a very high trunk in the middle zone. He will suffer greatly from sunburn and frost busters. So 50 cm, as practice has shown, is the best option.
Above the trunk area, measure another 30 cm. This will be the area where the main branches of the first tier of the crown are located. Cut everything that is located above above a well-developed bud, which, when viewed vertically, is located exactly above the place where the thorn was cut. This is done to ensure that the trunk does not deviate from the vertical position.
If you make the cut with a garden knife, then place it on the back side of the bud at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal and cut off the branch sudden movement on yourself. You cannot leave a stump above the bud, otherwise the shoot may deviate greatly to the side. But you can’t cut its base either: it will dry out, and the shoot will grow from another bud and go completely in the wrong direction in which the central conductor should grow (Fig. 7).
If you are not sure that you will get a good cut above the bud, leave another 10 cm above the measured ones. This will be the thorn to which you will tie the shoot when it reaches a length of 10-12 cm (Fig. 8).
In the summer, take a closer look: have the shoots on the thorn from the dormant buds begun to grow? If you find them, break them out; the tree does not need them. By the way, look to see if there are any shoots in the trunk area. If there are any, pinch them above the 3-4th leaf. After pinching, they will not grow much, and their leaves will contribute to the thickening of the bole and better growth shoots in the branching zone.
In the spring of next year, remove all the branches on the trunk, if they suddenly appear again. In the main branch placement area, select three. The lowest one should be at the height of the trunk (50 cm), and the other two are higher along the trunk at intervals of 15 cm. A little more, a little less - it doesn’t matter. It is important that the main branches are not crowded. One of them should be directed in one direction, and the other two should be directed in the opposite direction. The optimal divergence angle between the main branches is 120 degrees.
Cut out one or two branches closest to the place where the stem was cut last year. These are competitors. They extend from the central conductor at an acute (less than 40 degrees) angle and grow as strongly as the branch with which the crown grows in height. They are not suitable as main branches, as they constantly threaten to break.
Also cut out whole other strong branches that are not part of the frame. Make the cut at their very base, where there is usually an annular influx. Hence the term among gardeners - cut into a ring. By the way, in the annular influx there are a lot of cells capable of active division, which contributes to better and faster healing of wounds. However, if you prefer, you can bend them to a horizontal or drooping position. Let them work on the plant temporarily. You look, and the beginning of fruiting will accelerate. And you will always have time to cut them out. In addition, horizontally located branches will not grow much (Fig. 9.2-3).
Rice. 9. Formation of a sparse-tiered crown:
1-2 - biennial tree and its pruning;
3 - pruning a three-year-old tree;
4 - fully formed crown
Do not cut, bend or shorten branches shorter than 30 cm. Leave them alone. And in the future, during any pruning, never touch such branches, except in special cases. The fact is that most short branches are more prone to fruiting than to growth. Unfortunately, many gardeners do not know this and cut out such branches with the firm confidence that they are doing a good and very necessary thing for the trees. But in fact it is difficult to imagine anything more ridiculous. It hurts to look at trees trimmed into half-boxes.
The three remaining main branches will need some more work. So that none of them overtakes the others in growth, they must be placed in an equal position. Trim their ends at approximately the same level. Or, instead of pruning, you can slightly bend the longer branch downwards and pull the shorter one up. If after this the ends of the branches are not at the same level, you will have to slightly shorten the strongest one.
By the way, the central conductor throughout the entire period of crown formation should be 15-20 cm higher than the ends of the main branches in plants with pyramidal growth, and 10-15 cm in those with spreading growth.
IN next year 50-60 cm above the branches of the first tier, lay two more main branches. The interval between them is 10-15 cm. As last year, equalize them with each other. Be sure to cut out competitors and trim last year's growth of the conductor if it ends up much higher than the ends of the newly abandoned main branches. Those of them that were bent last year to a horizontal or drooping position, if they do not interfere, leave them alone, and if they thicken the crown, shorten them further or cut them into a ring.
A year later, lay another main branch 40 cm above the two branches of the second tier (Fig. 9.4). You can assume that the skeleton of the crown is formed. After a year or two, when the upper single branch takes a stable position, cut off the central conductor above it. A further increase in crown height is undesirable; the optimal is 2.5-3 m. It should be kept at this level.
If you purchased a two-year-old seedling that has several strong branches, then start forming a crown with three branches. The lowest one should be at a height of 40-50 cm from the soil level. The interval between the branches is desirable 10-15 cm, and the divergence angle between the two upper ones is approximately 60-70 degrees.
Kudryavets R. P.
