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Thursday 21st July, 2016

Hi

Its always a project in a process

Last week we touched on tipping or removing approx 1/3rd of the growth of a new season fruit tree which should force the young tree to produce a selection of new growth in the coming spring and summer months.

Now this is where you get to the fun part. We can now get to the nitty gritty of starting to form, or shape, the structure of the tree to suit your purpose.

To create the classic vase shaped tree

... so as we said last week a one year old tree has a single stem and must be pruned as soon as possible after planting to encourage the budding of new side stems some of which will become the framework of the tree. Cut the main stem back to about one third, making a clean cut just above a bud. The buds below the cut will grow outwards in the first summer. 

In the second year you are looking for 3 to 5 or maybe seven (over time) well spaced branches that will give that classic goblet shape. These need to start from around 1.2m from the ground, or slightly higher, so removal of the lower branches will form the trunk height. You won't want this too low as its more difficult to mow around or mulch and you will want to be able to stand on the ground to pick the fruit. Cut these branches back by one third and cut any other branches away cleanly at the main stem. Always prune to an outward facing bud. 

          

In the third winter, each of the main branches will have grown shoots. At this stage, if you only chose three branches in the last year, then select another two branches that will further develop the framework of the tree so that five well-spaced, open branches will remain. These should be pruned to by one third and the top side shoots of the other three initial branches can be used to elongate the structure. Cut these back by one third and everything else on the tree other than the five leaders should be cut back to 8 - 10cm from their point of growth.

                              

Four, five winters and onwards, will be about maintaining an open vase shaped tree which may include thinning of the tree to maintain that open vase shape, replacement of the branches that are ageing and perhaps carrying old and not so productive fruit spurs. Most winters will see the removal of most of the current seasons growth  though leaving a small amount to encourage new fruit spurs and the onset of replacement branches for those that are close to removal.

Now  nearly all apple trees (and pears) fruit on fruiting spurs,  but a few will fruit on tips or a combination of both. Fruiting spurs are the small unusually shaped branches that apples and pears fruit on. Once you have your tree framework sorted then much of the wood that an apple tree produces each year is mostly, what I call, vegetative and can be removed but leaving a small piece that potentially can grow more fruiting spurs.
          

The pruning mantra 

All pruning has a purpose 
The main aim is to: 
- Assist in the establishment of the tree after planting. 
- Make sure that the tree has enough light and air 
- Train the tree to an acceptable shape and size 
- Increase the size of the fruit 
- Encourage or control growth, whichever the tree demands 
- Remove dead, diseased and damaged branches 
- Strengthen the branch structure

Why do we want this shape???

The vase shape lets the sunlight in and we all  know that plants need the sun on their leaves to create food so that the tree can put energy into producing fruit. 

Open vase form allows for maximum air movement which means less disease and infection which in my book is all good therefore less or no spraying.

The vase shape also encourages the removal of crossing branches and this reduces the damage done to the tree. When branches cross and rub on each other the damage will cause a break in the skin (bark) and this will in turn allow infection, bacteria, virus or any number of nasties into the tree.

          

Apples galore!

We have a wonderful selection of apples trees to choose from which will produce fruit in all shapes, sizes, colours and flavours.  We have double and triple grafted, cider, heritage varieties and most of the modern ones too.  The double and triple grafts are great for those of you who are limited for space and if you like training them as espalier they have such a wonderful visual effect when in fruit.

When visiting our website you will find them catalogued under these headings if you follow the fruit tree menu or you can just type the name of the ones you like best in the search option to find them.

You can find more information on apples on our How To page under Apple Pollinators or check out our recent posts on facebook.  

Plants of interest that have just arrived

Melia Azederach with it's small glossy leaves, dainty fragrant purple flowers and canopy habit this is a superb tree for use as a shade tree. 

Griselinia Broadway Mint and Ardmore Emerald big bushy grades have just arrived, these are hessian balled for ease of planting also.

Ligustrum rotundifolium or curly leaf ligustrum as some will know it, also in a big bushy grade in hessian available now.

Cedrella Sinensis Flamingo.. again we are lucky enough to have some lovely big examples of this plant. Gorgeous foliage and such a landmark colour when the early leaf appears in spring.

Asparagus Jersey Giant in bundles of 10 crowns is now available and once it is gone there is no more so order now if you are wanting to plant these this season.

          

Flowering Cherries

Spring isn't far away and you don't want to miss the flowering cherries when they come into bloom so now is the time to plant them.  There really is a cherry for every spot, they come in vase shape, weeping and uprights in most shades of pink and white and they put on a stunning display to herald spring.  They can be used in so many ways...  Shade trees to sit under, avenue trees to line a driveway or as a single specimen to delight and focus the viewer.

Lets start with  Autumnalis Rosea as it starts flowering in winter if the temp is mild enough. And of course who can go past Chinese Brocade as a stunning speciman or avenue tree with a slight almond scent. Shimidsu Sakura is always a favourite with it's breathtakingly beautiful display of pendulous clusters of pink blossoms.  Falling snow is superb if you are wanting a small tree that clothes itself in white blossom with just a hint of pink. Felix Jury is great for feeding the tui and has a deep pink bloom which is delightful. Superba is also great for the tui's and both of these are sterile strains. Pendula rosea is also known as weeping rosebud cherry due to it's graceful weeping habit. Pink Perfection not only has gorgeouls pink, double, frilly blooms in spring but like many of these cherries has a brilliant autumn colour display as well.

Many of the prunus trees are available at different graft heights of 1.2m, 1.5m and 1.8m to make the right display in the right place at the right height possible so have a good look through all the prunus on the website to find what you are looking for.  

          

Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming to see so many pages to look through on the website so we have made it so that the name of the first plant on the page is displayed when you hold your cursor over the page number and if all else fails just type what you are looking for in the search bar.

Website Housekeeping

Due to a recent upgrade on our website we have merged all accounts that had identical email addresses.  This will make it easier for customers to see all their orders in a single account.   There may be a small number of instances where this has reset your password.   If so, then simply request a new password by typing your email address into the login screen and leaving the password field blank before clicking the LOG IN button.   This will send a system generated password to the email address entered which you can then use to login and update your account with a password of your choice.

Thank you

We would like to say a big thank you to the Rose Society and especially the members who braved all the different types of weather to be here on so many different occasions in order to give demonstrations and to answer questions on all things rose related.  

Have a great weekend!

Lloyd, Harry and the Wairere Team

Make it a Wairere weekend where even GNOMES know that gardening's not a drag.

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2016 Newsletters...

Picnic....ing in the shade (28th January, 2016)

Wairere Newsletter 5th feb (3rd February, 2016)

To Run or Not to Run... (19th February, 2016)

Wairere Newsletter 02 Mar (1st March, 2016)

Camellia time (11th March, 2016)

Magnolia or Michelia (17th March, 2016)

Easter weekend (24th March, 2016)

HW or LW Trees (3rd April, 2016)

Evergreen Trees (13th May, 2016)

All about shrubs (20th May, 2016)

Rose Time (27th May, 2016)

Frosty Friday (3rd June, 2016)

Tiny Camellias (9th June, 2016)

Gorgeous Trees (24th June, 2016)

wet wet wet (1st July, 2016)

Burgundy foliage (8th July, 2016)

Fruit trees abound (15th July, 2016)

..... Fruit Tree Pruning and Flowering Cherries

Cider apples (29th July, 2016)

August already (4th August, 2016)

wood pigeons (7th August, 2016)

Feed Time (19th August, 2016)

Magnolia's and Cider Apples (20th August, 2016)

its Official (2nd September, 2016)

Spring shrubs (7th September, 2016)

Spring Shrubs2 (7th September, 2016)

Spring Shrubs 2 (7th September, 2016)

Tricky Tasks (16th September, 2016)

climbers (23rd September, 2016)

Wairere Newsletter 23 Sep (23rd September, 2016)

Beards are in vogue (23rd September, 2016)

Gin Oclock (14th October, 2016)

????Kumaras are in (20th October, 2016)

summer is coming (27th October, 2016)

Plants for eating (2nd November, 2016)

November 11 (10th November, 2016)

Hamilton Gardens (17th November, 2016)

Xmas Trees (22nd November, 2016)

Holly (2nd December, 2016)

Xmas Brekkie (9th December, 2016)

Merry Xmas (16th December, 2016)

HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: