Hi Ron,

First of all, you don't mention anything about thinning the apples. If they
are growing in clusters, you should reduce them down to the largest and cleanest
of the
group. Also, along any branch there should not be more than one apple every
five
or six inches (this number can vary with the variety). I have used wooden
boards
with padding to support both apples and stone fruits. Thinning as described,
should
reduce the requirement for lots of supports. Thinning will give you fewer
fruits, but
larger in size and probably more flavorable, since the tree is not distributing
its energy
over too many fruits. Leaving a tree overbear can also lead to bienniel
production
of fruit.

Sherwin D.

Ron H wrote:

OK, I've done the pruning ( last winter) fungus spray, and pesticide spray
and watered well now I think my tree has too many apples. Literally! I mean
there are apples everywhere! What do I need to do to help the tree with this
load? I have heard of people making braces from 2X4s and propping up limbs.

Ron in West Central Wisconsin

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