Sherwin Dubren wrote:

You could try hanging reasonable sized weights (not enough to break
them).


I tried weights one year in an apple tree. Just enough weight to see
the branch come down a little. Unfortunately, I live in a windy
location. A good wind came up, the young tree started swaying in the
breeze, and the weights yanked out a couple of the branches. Only
spreader sticks for me after that!

Steve