Worked on spindle trees, making sure there is a strong leader and making account for a replacement leader for the future is important. We took out the most vigorous usually 2 year old upright stems, to retain the christmas tree like shape. We took off any branches that pointed too low, as the strimmer would most likely hit them and injure them, making them more vulnerable to disease. And any branches pointing out too much into the path as the tractor would hit them. Some branches were left to be trained but forgotten so had become to upright and vigorous. You try to tuck any useful young stems laterally for replacement of side branches.
See last year's Fruit Tree Pruning Masterclass for more details.
Photos, before and after pruning of spindle tree 'Harvey'
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| Photo 1: Before |
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| Photo 2: After |