Pruning
Once the trees were planted in the winter they were pruned to start establishing the shape of the trees.
Hazels - these were cut back to 3-4 stems about 0.3m high
Bush apple trees - these were cut back to the right height for the main stem and the main laterals shortened. The Redsleeves did not have much growth to prune, but I shortened the branches anyway.
Court of Wick - this was a whip which I shortened slightly
Tydemans Late - this was quite well feathered. I shortened the leader and left the other branches to help develop a thicker stem. I will remove these once the tree has reached the right height.
Quince - I pruned the branches by about one third to encourage the shape to broaden out. The tree seemed to suffer from the cold in the winter and the top of the branches died back. In the spring and summer the bottom of these branches came back to life and new vigorous branches emerged from the main stem close to the bottom.
The books recommend that cherries are pruned later than the other trees to prevent disease.
Sweet cherry - I cut the leader back to leave two branches to each side. What I should have done was to prune each of these back to 0.45m. I forgot to do this and the branches did not develop many laterals so I will have to cut these back next year.
Acid cherry - This didn't need much pruning as it came from the nursery as a half-standard. I took off one or two of the lower branches to raise the head a little.
Hazels - these were cut back to 3-4 stems about 0.3m high
Bush apple trees - these were cut back to the right height for the main stem and the main laterals shortened. The Redsleeves did not have much growth to prune, but I shortened the branches anyway.
Court of Wick - this was a whip which I shortened slightly
Tydemans Late - this was quite well feathered. I shortened the leader and left the other branches to help develop a thicker stem. I will remove these once the tree has reached the right height.
Quince - I pruned the branches by about one third to encourage the shape to broaden out. The tree seemed to suffer from the cold in the winter and the top of the branches died back. In the spring and summer the bottom of these branches came back to life and new vigorous branches emerged from the main stem close to the bottom.
The books recommend that cherries are pruned later than the other trees to prevent disease.
Sweet cherry - I cut the leader back to leave two branches to each side. What I should have done was to prune each of these back to 0.45m. I forgot to do this and the branches did not develop many laterals so I will have to cut these back next year.
Acid cherry - This didn't need much pruning as it came from the nursery as a half-standard. I took off one or two of the lower branches to raise the head a little.