The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-07-06
SUMMER PRUNING
SUGGESTIONS

(By G. G. Brown, horticulturist,
Hood River Experiment station
Last week the writer in discussing
this subject laid down certain funda-
mental principles or rules, which should
guide the pruner regardless of the time
when such work is done. Briefly, they
are as follows: First. for young trees
one TO three or four years old, to Sc
cure a vigorous we'll directed wood
growth; second, for the tree four to
seven years old to continue this vigor-
GUS wood growth but encourage the
fruiting habit. In other words, estab-
lish proper balance between vegeta-
tive wood growth and the formation Uf
fruit spurs; third, for the older tree
to continue such desirable balance and
where lacking to establish same. In
accomplishing these ends it was also
pointed out that care should be taken
to choose and space the scaffold limbs
to keep main branches or sections of
the tree properly dominant and to avoid
the sharp angIed equally balanced
crotches.
In view of the fact that these points
we're discussed in a preliminary way
only last week it appears desirable to
expand upon these points especially
with reference to their practical appli.
cation.
Let US consider again those trees
which are from one to four years of
age as related to pruning, especially
summer pruning. First we will take
up the tree which was planted this
spring. At this time a great many
shoots are present on the main stem or
trunk. From these shoots sooner or
later if pruning is intelligently done,
must come choice which will denfiite-
ly determine the main branches of the
future tree. All the other shoots will
probably be removed. Now, or even
earlier, is the time to prune these trees
to insure proper spacing Of branches
along the trunk. This is especially true
where the tree is making a weak
growth, mostly terminal growth. This
will apply either to the high or low
headed tree. Casual observers will no.
tice the natural tendency for tree is
to make its most vigorous vegetative
response near cut. In other words,
it tends to throw out most of its new
shoots at the top very close together
and the lower buds either remain dor.
mant or make very poor growth. IL
allowed to pursue this course the result
is poorly spaced and bad crotched
tree. In the case of the weak growing
tree, or the vigorous one which is max.
ing a vigorous terminal growth at the
expense of the rest of the tree, en- |
courage the lower weak shoots by
pinching back the over vigorous ones
end removing few of those which are
alearly undesirable. II on the other
hand by this time those shoots which |
are to make the main branches have
made a terminal growth of 20 to 80
inches cut them back as you would do
the following spring. This will force
out new laterals which will form the |
important framework of the future |
tree.
By the second year these trees will |
in most cases be directly benefited by |
summer pruning. The trees are now
established and should be making a |
vigorous growth This will be about |
now. Cut back the rank terminal
growth so as to force out the laterals
and allow them 10 make good growth |
before fall. BY so doing you gain a
whole year in the growth and frame
building of the tree. Whatever thin
ming out or further heading back may
be necessary can be done the following |
spring. The Importance of heading
back terminal growth is great, espe-
cially in the case of the Spitzenburg,
which has marked tendency to make
a long leggy growth, which is weak,
easily swayed in the wind and is INSULT
cient in itself to insure enough bearing
area from which only can come enough |
fruit to insure margin of profit.
. These same rules apply also to the |
two and three year old tree.
The tree having passed its fourth |
year is now approaching the time
when it should begin to produce fruit |