Fruit Tree Support - Ask Extension
What is the best way to support fruit tree branches that are heavy with fruit. We have semi dwarf peach and apple trees that have a lot of fruit that...
Knowledgebase
Fruit Tree Support #838236
Asked June 29, 2023, 11:47 AM EDT
What is the best way to support fruit tree branches that are heavy with fruit. We have semi dwarf peach and apple trees that have a lot of fruit that are weighing down the branches and besides thinning the fruit which we have already done what else can we do to support the branches.
Klamath County Oregon
Expert Response
Most papers written on fruit trees discuss how to prune your trees to prevent long branches that could produce a lot of fruit thereby potentially breaking off the branches. There is not a lot of information on staking or keeping heavy branches up, but there is some. You might want to consider pruning back the longest branches next winter
First you mentioned you have already thinned the trees. But it is recommend to have one fruit every 6 to 8 inches. You could thin again. Although for most of us, it is hard to thin back so much fruit.
If you dont want to thin anymore, you can stake up your heavy branches. You can use wood or metal long poles or posts and angle them from the ground into the heavy branches of the tree Ideally, these could have a groove at the top that the branch fits into. In some orchards, they use posts and a wire system to create a trellis to support the heavy branches. You could also use rope or the like to hold the branches toward the trunk of the tree. This assumes a strong trunk. You could rope a left branch towards the truck and rope a right branch with the same rope towards the trunk of the tree I uploaded a photo of one kind of support system. Based on where your trees are, you may have to get inventive to prop up the heaviest branches if you dont want to thin more
First you mentioned you have already thinned the trees. But it is recommend to have one fruit every 6 to 8 inches. You could thin again. Although for most of us, it is hard to thin back so much fruit.
If you dont want to thin anymore, you can stake up your heavy branches. You can use wood or metal long poles or posts and angle them from the ground into the heavy branches of the tree Ideally, these could have a groove at the top that the branch fits into. In some orchards, they use posts and a wire system to create a trellis to support the heavy branches. You could also use rope or the like to hold the branches toward the trunk of the tree. This assumes a strong trunk. You could rope a left branch towards the truck and rope a right branch with the same rope towards the trunk of the tree I uploaded a photo of one kind of support system. Based on where your trees are, you may have to get inventive to prop up the heaviest branches if you dont want to thin more
