Pruning demonstration

I wanted to explore some future plans for the orchard.  One of the events I would like to participate in is a pruning demonstration.  This would be around February, and could include anyone in the community who would have an interest in attending.  There are a lot of experienced orchardists in our area, and I would love to get more input on how best to approach the pruning of different trees, as well as providing some of my own recommendations for approaching pruning.

I have been practicing summer pruning for a couple years now, and have found that late summer (July/August) pruning results in less of a growth response than winter pruning.  The resources of the tree are up in the tree and are reduced when trees are pruned for height. Winter pruning is much more common, but can often result in a significant growth response once the resources return out of the roots and back into the growth of the tree.  Ideally, a combination of summer pruning for height and winter pruning for refining growth habits would seem to be optimal.

As suggested by Orin Martin, I have also seen a bud formation response generated by late summer pruning.  In fact, I had a significant number of buds bloom in early August after decreasing lateral growth.  Reduction in length of long and leggy laterals also helps to strengthen side branches so that they can hold fruit successfully.  I had more blooms this year than in previous years on almost all my apple trees which may be attributed, in part, to winter pruning.  In fact, many trees bloomed that have never had fruiting spurs before.  It is important to summer prune sufficiently early to allow tender new growth to harden off prior to winter weather.  I started pruning in mid August last year, and felt that I went into the winter with too many blooms and tender growth still on trees.

Grafting demonstration

I have already received requests to conduct a grafting demonstration in the spring at the orchard.  Ideally, participants would be able to graft a scion onto a rootstock and leave with their own tree.  Rootstock purchased could be a combination of dwarf and semi-dwarf types, depending on preference.  I have plenty of scions available for users to select from.

I have some contact information from earlier orchard walk-throughs, and could put out information inviting other participants.  The cost of rootstock and supplies is fairly nominal.  I would estimate the cost of completing the graft and taking the completed tree home would be somewhere between $5 and $10, and closer to the former.

I will post information on this website when plans for either events have been formalized.  I encourage comments and feedback regarding the development of these types of demonstrations, or other events that may interest the community.