New apple tree leader - Ask Extension
The leader and an few other branches broke off our newly planted apple tree during a storm. Should we try to train the one remaining long branch to b...
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New apple tree leader #875409
Asked June 30, 2024, 8:50 PM EDT
The leader and an few other branches broke off our newly planted apple tree during a storm. Should we try to train the one remaining long branch to be the leader or just leave the tree as is? Thank you!
Chippewa County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Jacqueline,
You could wait to let the broken leader begin sending out new branches and straighten one of those to turn it into a new leader, or you can prune the broken branch off and train that long branch to be the new leader.
The faster method is probably to turn the long branch into a new leader. The web page below shows how to do that:
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/staking-and-guying-trees
if you decide to let the broken leader recover, the method to train a sprout into a new leader would be the same.
Good luck.
