tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post6865537418710788106..comments2024-03-17T17:14:03.259+00:00Comments on The Urban Veg Patch: "Pruners learn by pruning"Carohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-91991242949597342932015-02-05T17:40:45.862+00:002015-02-05T17:40:45.862+00:00I think the best way to learn is to need to know h...I think the best way to learn is to need to know how to do something. I've just checked back in my other books and found that they reinforce the message of pruning in the winter for growth and the summer for fruit. When I first read them, I just wanted to know how to prune so missed that important message! Duh! Will you have to leave your espaliered tree behind if you move? That would be very hard, I think. Shame about your cherry tree but I'd be tempted to grow another one anyway - try Merchant or Merton Glory as they're supposed to be resistant to bacterial canker. Then when you've got lots of fruit, you'll just have to worry about keeping the birds off! xxCarohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-4322325474103277012015-02-05T17:32:22.853+00:002015-02-05T17:32:22.853+00:00I had a particular interest in pruning to keep my ...I had a particular interest in pruning to keep my trees at a manageable height, Jo. I've also read really good advice on pruning in two other books: The Fruit Tree Handbook by Ben Pike and Fruit by Mark Diacono (River Cottage Handbook No 9). Either of these would be good for you to read if you want solid advice on pruning fruit trees. Caro xCarohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-75360999075313200632015-02-05T17:14:14.268+00:002015-02-05T17:14:14.268+00:00Most trees are best left alone, Dina - as you say,...Most trees are best left alone, Dina - as you say, it's just a problem when the garden isn't big enough to hold a huge tree. I've seen a pear tree in a local park that must be over 40ft tall - with no way of getting at the fruit, it just drops and rots. I can only hope the day will come when I'm also laden with fruit! xxCarohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-6369099978670168612015-02-05T17:11:31.610+00:002015-02-05T17:11:31.610+00:00Ooh, I had a vision of you dressed in yellow and b...Ooh, I had a vision of you dressed in yellow and black and flitting around your garden with a large paintbrush there, Pauline! I used to feel nervous about pruning as I love to cut away at plants and worried that I was a bit too eager. It all survived though so I say trust your instincts! Carohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-35512000648092646592015-02-05T17:08:13.729+00:002015-02-05T17:08:13.729+00:00Brilliant, thanks Sue! Pleased you enjoyed the po...Brilliant, thanks Sue! Pleased you enjoyed the post - I wish your neighbours well with their garden.Carohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-38568778128368541032015-02-05T17:01:40.097+00:002015-02-05T17:01:40.097+00:00I hate to lose any plants and will go to great len...I hate to lose any plants and will go to great lengths to rescue any that are looking a bit sad but I've learnt to be more ruthless in the garden. If I had the strength (or a crane), I'd dig up one of each tree and replant. Hopefully the pruning will work wonders. That birdie phrase made me chuckle too - and I had lots of little Blue Tits on the trees last summer as they feasted on the aphids! Carohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-55974052406449268892015-02-05T16:45:57.024+00:002015-02-05T16:45:57.024+00:00You've done well, Bek, to get fruit so soon fr...You've done well, Bek, to get fruit so soon from your pears and apples. It's so disheartening when the fruit drops, leaving only the realisation that that's it for another year. Hope this year is a good one for you - I think aphids on mine may have had something to do with it as well.Carohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-36774880992175817882015-02-05T16:42:13.571+00:002015-02-05T16:42:13.571+00:00Thanks, Flighty. Pruning is a huge topic with lot...Thanks, Flighty. Pruning is a huge topic with lots of conflicting advice. It would be great if this post proves useful. Yes, indeed - fingers crossed for fruit! C xCarohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-40776970252020225012015-02-05T16:39:42.970+00:002015-02-05T16:39:42.970+00:00Aw, thank you Erin! I can only hope that I'm ...Aw, thank you Erin! I can only hope that I'm successful in emulating Paul's trees. I love the wacky shape of his trees and the fact that they become good fruit bearers is just the icing on the cake. I've always summer pruned my cherry trees and get really prolific harvests year after year, even though they're little trees. The brick wall is great looking but does deprive nearby plants of water - I'm not sure edible plants for dry shade exist - another reason to open up the fruit trees! Carohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-21721919327693567602015-02-05T16:34:57.964+00:002015-02-05T16:34:57.964+00:00Don't forget I expect I could ask a few small ...Don't forget I expect I could ask a few small boys to shin up the taller trees for me as well, Anna! I really want to see how this pruning method affects the trees although I'm not expecting prolific fruit in the first year; I really just want the tree at a manageable height. Funnily enough, although all the trees were on dwarfing rootstock, the apples and cherries have stayed small while the pears and plums have become huge! Probably just as well there's been no fruit! Carohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-67575746302537705872015-02-03T03:58:32.330+00:002015-02-03T03:58:32.330+00:00gah, I would be loathe to cut down a tree. that wo...gah, I would be loathe to cut down a tree. that would break my heart! so i'm glad pruning is working.<br />I must admit the sentiment "enough space for a little birdie to fly thru" made me laugh. hmmm, I bet they wouldn't want birds flying thru once the fruit is ripening.e / dig in hobarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03448702578845994922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-22025097257475760462015-02-02T12:26:22.491+00:002015-02-02T12:26:22.491+00:00I planted an espalier apple a few years ago now. I...I planted an espalier apple a few years ago now. Initially I was a bit scared of the pruning element but I dug out all the books I had and went for it. So far I have only needed to prune in July to encourage more spurs. I have heard pears are trickier to grow. So much can go wrong with top fruit. Late frosts catching the blossom, a dry spell when the fruit are forming and with plums and cherries there's the problem with sliver leaf. We lost an ornamental cherry to canker so I'm nervous about planting a cherry in future - even though they're my favourite fruit. Fingers crossed for home-grown pears. :)wellywomanhttp://www.wellywoman.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-52726963089285921722015-01-30T11:52:15.009+00:002015-01-30T11:52:15.009+00:00Pruning fills me with dread. I haven't a clue ...Pruning fills me with dread. I haven't a clue how I should be doing it, I just go with instinct. Perhaps this would be a good book for me too.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436932004631816039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-12865999081369202592015-01-28T21:34:40.871+00:002015-01-28T21:34:40.871+00:00This was interesting, I can see why you'd need...This was interesting, I can see why you'd need to keep an eye on the fruit trees in an urban garden. I never seem to get around to pruning my fruit trees and apart from the latest ones all the rest have got away from me. I have been laden with fruit though so don't mind....I can see I'll have to take drastic action soon!xxxSnowbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08572555410663928295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-26199320664224675902015-01-28T19:31:27.120+00:002015-01-28T19:31:27.120+00:00I love the look of espaliered trees and the way th...I love the look of espaliered trees and the way that they can be controlled. If the garden wall was west facing, that's what I would have done with these. Still, as I'm always saying, "when I get my own garden …" In this book, the author says to cut off the leader stem at the height you want so that the tree puts its energy into the side branches. Sounds a bit like espaliered trees but without the wires and with more branches to me! Hope this inspires you, let me know if you want more info. Caro xxCarohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-41796268284906175302015-01-28T19:26:45.483+00:002015-01-28T19:26:45.483+00:00I'm feeling confident about this one, guys. G...I'm feeling confident about this one, guys. Given the way that over-pruned council trees throw up massive suckers every year, I'm convinced that it would take a lot more than my snippers to kill off these trees. Getting fruit will be another matter … Carohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-35217276035657011122015-01-28T19:24:42.302+00:002015-01-28T19:24:42.302+00:00Thanks, Sarah - I thought the book made a lot of s...Thanks, Sarah - I thought the book made a lot of sense in keeping trees to a manageable height. Now I just have to figure out how to reach the branches of the tall pear tree! I'll definitely be doing a follow up post - whatever the outcome! xxCarohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-29010044789171225252015-01-28T19:22:33.959+00:002015-01-28T19:22:33.959+00:00Obviously not a good year for either of us, Mark! ...Obviously not a good year for either of us, Mark! Interesting to know about your minarettes - I had a little plan at one time to grow minarettes down the sides of my veg garden, sort of like Italian Cypress trees. You've persuaded me otherwise! Fingers crossed for better fruit harvests for both of us this year. Have you any other fruit trees for pollination?Carohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-24191486612369106222015-01-28T19:19:06.695+00:002015-01-28T19:19:06.695+00:00I've always followed the mantra of 'Dead, ...I've always followed the mantra of 'Dead, Diseased, Dying' when pruning but hadn't thought about the effect of my actions on the tree. I once went on a local pruning workshop and got even more confused! I only recently found out that stone fruit need summer pruning but then this latest book says that advice is for farmers and backyard gardeners needn't worry! Instinct sounds good to me! Carohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-8221901519733781152015-01-28T19:16:20.397+00:002015-01-28T19:16:20.397+00:00Pleased you enjoyed reading it, Endah. Do you prun...Pleased you enjoyed reading it, Endah. Do you prune your trees?Carohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-21909822520475130492015-01-28T18:42:19.472+00:002015-01-28T18:42:19.472+00:00A very informative post Caroline, I always feel ra...A very informative post Caroline, I always feel rather nervous when I prune my fruit trees. I do get some fruit but not as much as hoped for. We get plenty of blossom but not much fruit, do I have to pretend to be a bee if the weather is cold at blossom time?!Paulinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16057764572761794703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-8068236604935156342015-01-28T17:35:40.557+00:002015-01-28T17:35:40.557+00:00Useful post thanks for all the research. Some nei...Useful post thanks for all the research. Some neighbours of mine who are making a new garden want fruit trees so I shall email them this link.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-48690099607164246612015-01-28T10:10:27.422+00:002015-01-28T10:10:27.422+00:00Pruning has always been a bit of guesswork for me....Pruning has always been a bit of guesswork for me. I was advised to summer prune my apple espaliers, to promote fruiting spurs which has worked for me. Well, I take success as the trees that are 3+ years old have mostly fruited already. My dwarf pears (a double grafted i.e. grafted onto quince, then other pear rootstock, then the wanted pear variety) are just now fruiting for the first time. Well, two out of 4 varieties. Last year one set fruit but they obviously weren't properly fertilised and dropped early. I was devastated! Hopefully your pears will be happy with what you are telling them with your pruning and will respond next year. Bekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225621037420851059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-25521952635717569112015-01-28T09:16:45.097+00:002015-01-28T09:16:45.097+00:00An interesting, and informative, post which I'...An interesting, and informative, post which I'm sure will prove really useful to anyone who has fruit trees to prune and is unsure what to do. <br />Fingers crossed that you finally get some fruit this year. Flighty xx Flightyhttp://flightplot.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983898767534428385.post-792760921142897082015-01-28T05:54:49.245+00:002015-01-28T05:54:49.245+00:00Thank you Caro...I am so glad it was helpful. Two ...Thank you Caro...I am so glad it was helpful. Two things. Your trees are absolutely PERFECT!! They look just like Paul's trees. Isn't it wonderful. For months I would stop and admire my plum. I love that pruning style. The other thing...I love your brick wall. Omg that is amazing. Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.com