scaffold branch See scaffold.
scale (1) A modified leaf that protects a bud. (2) A type of insect pest.
Scaffold branches begin the main framework of a tree. They should be evenly spaced and look like spokes of a wheel when viewed from above.
It's a good idea to stake and tie your tree from at least two sides in windy areas.
Page 1 of 1
Next Steps ...
Early Spring: Choose three or four scaffold branches if this wasn't done last summer. (Note: Only two of the scaffold branches are visible in the side-view illustrations.
These composite bands, approximately 12 to 16 inches in length, are then placed on source trees in early to mid-September by stapling them around the tree bole and/or large scaffold branches.
Train main scaffold branches (those that form the structure of the canopy) to produce stronger and more vigorous trees. You'll find it easier to shape branches with hand pruners when a plant is young than to prune larger branches later.
First Winter: If there has been a lot of new growth, choose 3 to 5 branches for the first set of scaffold branches. These branches should spiral around the trunk with about 4 inches (10 cm) vertical distance between each branch.
These become your permanent scaffold branches. Prune off the other branches. Do this in late winter while the tree is dormant. In subsequent years, add one or two more layers of scaffold branches, spaced 12 to 15 inches apart.
The central leader system consists of a central trunk around which scaffolds (primarily side branches) of the desired number and spacing can be arranged with wide-angle crotches. Three to eight scaffold branches are commonly developed from the ...
 See also: Branch, Spring, Trunk, Pruning, Plant
  
|
RSS
