Instructions / Assembly

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make the most pleasing-looking, bushy plant. Such

pruning also allows for good air circulation through

the crown, and that prevents disease.

Central Leader

Apples and pears, which bear large crops of heavy

fruit, should be pruned to form a central leader. This

system encourages the growth of strong side branch-

es from one main trunk. Remove branches growing

from the trunk to maintain open space between limbs,

and also thin the secondary branches that grow from

these limbs. Prune to allow sunlight and air to reach

the center of the tree.

Modiﬁed leader

This method began the same as the central

leader system, with one strong central trunk.

Eventually though, you must prune the central leader

to form several leaders. The modiﬁed leader system is

generally easier to maintain because most fruit trees

tend to grow in this way naturally.

Open center

Also called the vase system, this method lets plen-

ty of light and air into the center of the tree, but it

also makes for weaker branches and is not rec-

ommended for apples and pears. It is well suited

to quinces, crabapples, plums, cherries, peaches, nec-

tarines, and apricots. Be sure to prune so as to avoid

making lots of limbs arise from nearly the same point

of the trunk, or weak crotches will result.

PRUNING FRUIT TREES

Central Leader Open Center Modiﬁed Leader

There are three generally accepted systems for pruning fruit trees,

each designed to produce a different conﬁguration of main branches

and secondary and lateral branches.