Second growing season. 



1. When current season's growth is 3 to 6 inches long, 

 remove those shoots competing with the terminal 

 branch extension and the central leader. 



Second dormant season. 



1. Tree now composed of 1, 2 and 3-year-old sections 

 with one or two levels of branches (Fig. 10B). 



2. The 1 and 2-year-old sections are pruned the same as 

 the first dormant season. This consists of removing 

 shoots competing with extension growth of the leader 

 and selecting 3 to 5 lateral shoots to form the second 

 level of branches on the central leader. The second 

 level should be 18 to 24 inches above the first level at 

 the base of the leader. Head the leader and lateral 

 shoots (branches) by removing '/= and % of their past 

 season's growth, respectively. 



3. In the 3-year-old section: 



a. Position branches to open areas and spread to a 

 45° angle before pruning. 



b. Thin excess shoot growth and maintain 3 to 5 

 lateral branches in the lower or first level. 



c. Prune the lateral branches as if each were a central 

 leader tree. 



1. Single out terminal shoot and remove compet- 

 ing shoots. 



2. Head terminal shoot by removing Va of its cur- 

 rent season's growth. 



3. Thin^'-' vigorous shoots growing upright on 

 the branch. 



4. Head side shoots of the branch by removing '^ 

 or less of the current season's growth. This 

 won't be necessary with some cultivars. 



Third growing season. 



1. Remove shoots the same as in the second growing 

 season. In addition, remove all vigorous upright shoots 

 developing on lateral branches. 



nird dormant season. 



1. The tree now is composed of 1,2, 3, and 4-year-old 

 sections with 2 or 3 levels of branches. 



2. The 1, 2, and 3-year-old sections are handled as 

 described before. Be sure to allow adequate space 

 between limbs developing one above the other. 



3. Some of the headed shoots on the 3-year-old section 

 will have lateral shoots develop below the point of 



^ ^Thinning refers to the removal of branches in a portion 

 of the tree or throughout the tree to reduce competition 

 between limbs and permit greater light and spray pene- 

 tration. 



heading. If too many develop, remove some (thinning 

 cuts), keeping those more horizontally positioned. 



4. Do as little pruning as possible in the 3-year-old section 

 of the tree. Tfie leader Is the only terminal requiring 

 heading each year 



5. In the 4-year-old section, reduce the number of head- 

 ing cuts: 



a. Remove all shoots competing with terminal 

 growth. 



b. With regard to shoots developing on the branches: 

 remove over-vigorous ones, head lightly some with 

 moderate vigor, and leave the rest of moderate 

 and weak vigor shoots unheaded. 



c. Where side shoots were headed the year before, 

 cut (thin) into 2-year-old wood to a weak side 

 shoot or a bud, removing the vigorous terminal 

 growth. 



6. Fruiting should be confined to the 4-year-old section. 



Fourth growing season. 



1 . Remove fruit from central leader and ends of branches 

 to maintain tree form (may be necessary in third sea- 

 son for some cultivars). Follow procedures practiced 

 in the third growing season. 



Fourth dormant season. 



1. Tree is now composed of 1, 2, 3, 4, and B-year-old 

 sections with two to four levels of branches depending 

 upon how well the tree has grown. 



2. Encourage fruiting rather than growth, so, do as little 

 pruning as possible. 



3. If possible, avoid heading into 1-year-old wood in 

 sections where fruiting is to be encouraged. 



4. In 5-year-old section: 



a. If tree has filled allotted space, head back where 

 necessary into 2-Year-old wood to an unheaded 

 side branch. 



b. Avoid heading cuts into 1 -year-old wood until 

 the tree is fruiting well. 



Care beyond the fourth year. 



1 . Keep a vegetative terminal shoot on the central 

 leader. It may be necessary to cut back into the older 

 wood to renew the terminal shoot. 



2. Make mainly thinning cuts by removing an entire 

 branch or cutting back into older wood to a side 

 shoot (1 -year-old wood) or branch. 



3. Follow procedures 4 to 9 as outlined in section 

 entitled "care beyond the fourth year" for low den- 

 sity orchard with containment of tree height. 



4. Cultivars, such as Cortland and Golden Delicious 

 with flexible wood, often need to be headed back to 



25 



