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Apple tree support

tim87djh1NgmRAitim87djh1NgmRAi Posts: 5
in Problem solving
I have a Bardsey apple on (I think) M26 rootstock. It was planted in winter 18/19 as a maiden whip and staked (probably too high). The lower trunk was looking very thin so this spring i replaced the stake with guy lines lower down to encourage it to sway more and thicken while still providing support in the stronger winds. Now the fruit are getting heavier the tree has started to bend and lean, and was looking precarious so I added a strap to the fence to bring it back upright. Will it need permanent support now? If I take the support off in the autumn after the fruit has gone will it strengthen? 

Posts

  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Welcome to the forum, @tim87djh1NgmRAi :)

    Could you post a photo of your tree?  It's hard to imagine where it is relative to the fence...  The recommendation is to stake a tree on M26 for at least the first 4 years, I think - but @pansyface is the fruit tree expert so hopefully she'll see this thread.  
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I wouldn’t be allowing such a young tree to carry fruit … it needs to put its energy into growing … also the weight of fruit can damage the tree, tearing branches. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • tim87djh1NgmRAitim87djh1NgmRAi Posts: 5
    edited July 2022
    Meant to add a pic to the first post sorry. Here's the tree with three guy lines low down and now a strap holding it upright against the prevailing wind (can't seem to rotate it the right way up). The branches seem to be holding the weight of the apples fine but it was the main stem that was leaning over. Will it eventually strengthen up if I remove some fruit? I am happy to have a permanent support but in that case I'll build something more aesthetic. This was the first fruit tree I planted, probably did everything wrong!


  • tim87djh1NgmRAitim87djh1NgmRAi Posts: 5
    Ok thanks!
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