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law on boundaries ?
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 |
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