Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
designs, the U-shaped trees are oriented parallel to the crop rows in the
double leader system and create narrow walls.
FIGURE 12.16
Pear Trees Trained to a Double Leader Design
ABOVE:
Developing two trunks for each tree reduces establishment
costs. The flat, narrow canopy provides for excellent pest and disease
control and easy harvest.
By doubling the leaders, you use half the number of trees per acre to produce
the same number of leaders as with single-trunk axis or spindle systems.
This saves you a huge amount of money in establishment costs. Growers that
double the number of leaders also have an advantage in areas where fire
blight is a problem — you can lose one of the two leaders and still remain
