On Sat, 5 Apr 2003 03:41:04 +0100, bigjon wrotc:

and
should I remove the top branch to allow another to become the lead ?

The fist thing to do is prune the original 'leader' to the uppermost
healthy and undamaged 'axillary bud' (or leaf node, whatever you want
to call it).

Then it's decision time. I am assuming that you would like the tree to
become taller rather than bushier. The lateral (side shoot) which is
angling off into your garden will, unless you do something about it,
become dominant. If it is still quite bendy you could, I suppose,
stake it as far upright as you can and remove the original leader to
its joint with the strong lateral - but you will forever have a very
wonky plant - albeit without much further loss of previous growth.

If, through practicality or preference, that option does not appeal,
what you need to encourage is a fresh, new, nicely bendy lateral
sprouting as close to the top of the original leader as possible.

Unfortunately the large remaining lateral, in the process of
establishing dominance, will be sending down hormones to discipline
any upstarts and should be curbed. What you do next depends on the
amount of foliage ready to emerge further down and how much of the
original leader remains above the strong lateral. If there are
sufficient leaf buds emerging further down on the rest of the tree to
feed the plant throughout the year and there is also a good length of
the original leader bearing a number of leaf nodes remaining above the
strong lateral you could think of removing the lateral completely (and
cleanly) at the union. One of the leaf buds on the original leader
(not necessarily the topmost) will take off strongly this year. Stake
it as near vertical as possible. Next year prune what remains of the
original leader to its new strong lateral - which is now growing
upright and will happily take the lead. This is the least kinky
option.

However, if removing the strong lateral will also remove a large
proportion of emerging leaf buds, best not remove it completely. Also
best not to prune it back too hard as it will only encourage strong
shoots further down itself and these may outgrow any emerging from the
original leader which you would prefer to gain apical dominance
because the kink in the end result will be less.

The tree should sprout out vigourously this year but will do so
where it chooses so next year is another decision time. It may well be
that shoots from the original leader are flimsy compared to those
emerging from the pruned lateral but a vigourous shoot has emerged
from the upper side of the lateral very close to its union with the
leader. This may be the most suitable to turn into the leader at next
years prune in order to carry the growth on upwards. In this
eventuality there will be a small dogs leg kink which will smoothen
out as the tree matures. Kinky or wonky, take your choice.

And another thing - you knew all this anyway didn't you!


grin


Hussein
Grow a little garden