Zach gives us a lesson in pruning. He talks about the natural size of trees. Conventional and dwarf. But he says so many other factors also play a part. What are you growing for understory? How tall are your ladders? Are you a climber? He talks about plants’ sun needs but also what kind of an orchard do we envision.
He goes over to a beautiful dwarf avocado tree and points out the fast new sucker growth. He talks about vegetative growth and flowering stages. Then he begins his lesson in pruning. He says he likes to start at the top with the suckers. This way if a big branch comes down and breaks a lower branch, he still has others to choose from. After he handles the suckers he come down and inside the canopy to work on branches which are crossed or growing in the wrong direction. Each edit should make the tree look more symmetrical and aid in sun and air exposure.
He says he likes to start a cut by determining which direction the tree is leaning and cut a small notch on the inside to break the bark. As the weight of the branch begins to pinch the blade, he moves to the other side and completes his clean cut. He demonstrates and finishes by showing how to break down the pruned branches into mulch and to arrange that mulch on the ground under each tree. In this way he accomplishes the three goals of fertility, moisture retention and weed suppression. He reminds them to always remove weeds inside the drip line before piling mulch on top.
He lays out a plan for each tree in the area: Trimming the suckers and lifting the skirt on the pomelos. Cutting down some big old papayas for mulch. Mulching nearby cacaos.
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Music by Mojoe Nicosia.
3 окт 2024
