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Avoiding Crotches In Fruit Trees

Categories: Fruit Growing

How can I avoid bad crotches in fruit trees?



Crotches, which means branches of equal or nearly equal size, emerging

from a point at a very acute angle, should be prevented by cutting out

one or both of them. The branching of a lateral at a larger angle does

not form a crotch and it usually buttresses itself well on the larger

branch. That is a desirable form of branching. Short distances between

such branchings is desirable, because it makes a stronger and more

permanently upright limb, capable of sustaining much weight of foliage

and fruit. Build up the young tree by shortening in as it grows, so as

to get such a strong framework.



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