Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
central leader or modified central leader tree. The main difference between
the two approaches is that in a central leader tree, the leader is not headed
to stimulate branching.
The final tree shape should be conic-shaped or pyramidal, with a relat-
ively wide base and narrow top to allow light to penetrate to the lowest
branches and the interior of the trees. In some orchards, the trees are allowed
to become rounded with a wide top. The shading from the upper limbs,
however, reduces the fruit quality and production on lower branches. Distrib-
ute your branches around the trunk so that one branch does not lie directly
above another. Leave enough scaffold branches to fill in the canopy, but not
so many as to create excessive shading.