Shaping Fruit Tree Branches In The Orchard

[@Praxxus55712]

Beautiful shape and direction of the branches Blake. I trained my plum and apple tress with this method with excellent results. You are on your way to having a strong well shaped tree that can handle the load once it starts producing fruit. Nice demo. :)

[@daddykirbs]

Ray, do you have a link to a video of your trees with this done? I'd love to see how you did it.

[@OneYardRevolution]

Very nice orchard, Blake! I'm a complete novice when it comes to fruit trees, but his method makes a lot of sense to me.

[@pwelgan]

Very sensible approach and I will give it a try in my new orchard trees which are in their second year now. I did start to weight down my trees repurposing nylon stockings filled with soil clods but...I noticed what you mention...little control of the angle the branch would fall and also I was uncomfortable when the wind started to blow...your approach suggests more control. Thanks!

[@thuubten]

good idea; I like being able to continuously relocate the bricks if necessary

[@careyfee]

Really appreciated your video! Just finished working on an apple and a plum. THANK YOU!

[@jlfproductionsfilms]

great idea, I just planted my first 2 apple trees. So I will keep this in mind for sure.

[@jandoolin6215]

Very good job. I was just weighting the branches down on some of my young apple trees today. I used organza bags filled with sand. I purchased them from eBay 100 for 15.00

[@PatrickYoungful]

Hey. Thanks for the video. These methods have been used in Europe for a long time to promote the branches to stay lower to the ground, easier to pick, less waste. First time I have seen this in a video. Will use your technique using bricks!!

[@daddykirbs]

+Patrick Young I'm glad it helped :) Good luck!

[@executivegardener]

Thanks Blake. Very informative. I will try with my young dwarf apple trees that have the branches growing up. Jeff

[@2Birds1Stone_]

Love it! Turns out we have a lot of control over how our fruit trees grow!

[@tonytuthill]

Love it. I spent a summer with my dad and started similar experiments. But. Never got to see if it worked. The thing about the weights not being attached to the tree: If I understand the idea correctly; the bobbing weight action: - Pulls the branch into a more horizontal position for easy access of fruit - Allows flexing/bobbing to increase branch strength - Increase Hormone production for thicker branches and bigger buds ( ??? THIS is what I was really hoping to find out. If I could make super branches that will produce larger fruit. Quality vs. Quantity ). Q: Do weights producer thicker branches vs just attaching branches to bricks/fencing/wiring.

[@joeshea1010]

inspiring-to-action video, very nice presentation, thank you blake. will give it a go with our 40 year old trees in ireland.

[@rogersherfield2604]

I like your idea. I think I'll try it on a few of my trees. I have some that keeping going for the sky and my pruning has not really corrected it. Nice video.

[@WayneMeador]

Gosh Blake Kirby, what are you drinking down there in the water man...you're cranking out the videos! :-) Well done brother, well done and great idea. W.

[@GideonGardens]

I think I notice comfrey growing under your fruit trees? Nice way to help develop a good root system and sweeter fruit. Great video!

[@daddykirbs]

Yep, that's the Comfrey. It didn't survive under all the trees, but I'll replant the ones that didn't make it. The plants that did make it are full and beautiful!

[@jemoore27]

I really liked this video. I have a pear tree that has its branches all lean one way and I've often wondered about weighing them down in the directions they should be. I will definitely try your idea tomorrow morning. Hopefully it works for you and for me! Thanks a lot.

[@michaelwatkins3842]

Man, I love your videos. I am doing some of the exact same things on my farm. Respect and support brother.

[@daddykirbs]

+Michael Watkins Thank you! Keep at it... it's a fun journey :)

[@AlbertaUrbanGarden]

That is a very interesting trial! I only have one apple tree I put in this year. In 2015 I plan on grafting a couple of different types to it. I hope to have a small orchard in one tree :)

[@daddykirbs]

I've thought about trying that too, but I have the space so I'm just going with a full orchard.

[@AlbertaUrbanGarden]

You will get a whole lot more production and the pollinators will be a whole lot happier ! Off to work I go my Friend have a Great Day!

[@elysejoseph]

Very nice experiment! I have to train 2 fruit trees next spring, I will give your method a go. Thanks :)

[@daddykirbs]

I hope it goes well for you! Enjoy the fruit!

[@1gotgoodz]

Beautiful comfrey swells, great method using bricks instead of wieghts.

[@daddykirbs]

Thanks! The Comfrey has grown in beautifully! I do love having them there. When my goat gets out of the pen he loves having them there too :)

[@1gotgoodz]

I just started my comfrey last spring. I only have a little patch in my 30gallon with a dwarf fruit tree.

[@daddykirbs]

1gotgoodz Keep in mind that Comfrey like to go DEEP so you will do very well to get it in the ground and out of a pot. They can send tap roots down 12 feet :) I do believe in bio-diverse planting. It is an effort of mine to learn what some key plants are that benefit each other, especially in the orchard. Keep it up!

[@1gotgoodz]

I was hoping to be able to get it planted out this winter or spring. I had been wondering about the root growth, and if a season in a container would be to long. Thank you for your support, I highly regard your opinion. Your farm is awesome.

[@brokeartist6510]

awesome idea! ! thanks for the inspiration. your trees look great and I'm going out right now to plan out my future shaping!

[@daddykirbs]

+Broke Artist I'm glad you got something out of that. I'll be working on the orchard real soon again now that it is cooling down a bit.

[@danmarino650]

Is there a Update on what this tree looks like now?

[@danny30g]

How long should I keep the branch tied up ???all summer ?? or maybe: for example, :one month is enough to form ??

[@drmedvethc]

Good idea!Thank you!

[@memberson]

hello I just want to ask a question are you getting fruit from these trees? so far I have Garden some food from my trees. list of purchased from to purchase your trees I can't seem to find them online maybe I have the name incorrectly?

[@daddykirbs]

+MORNING Gardener's SHOW. The Apple trees have not produced yet. The Pear trees have produced only a little. The Nectarines and Peaches have done really well.

[@rominellla]

good idea.thanks

[@CarterFamilyof8]

This is my first year with fruit trees (peach, apple, grafted apple, cherry, plum, paw paw) -- are your semi dwarf or dwarf? I'm trying to get a feel for what I am looking at. We bought ours last spring and they arrived 3-4 ft tall before we put them in the ground. Few people bother with fruit trees around here so I'm relying solely on what I find on the internet to guide me. I love love love this idea though.

[@julvwildcat190]

Awesome tip. Do you think if I want more of a weeping look I can get it by adding something closer to the ends of the branches in combination to your technique?

[@daddykirbs]

Yes :)

[@julvwildcat190]

Blake Kirby thank you for your reply. I looked all over youtube and could not find much information on this technique.

[@marthadanielson8933]

Good video. I'm going to try this. What are the plants growing underneath your fruit trees?

[@daddykirbs]

Comfrey

[@sweetheartsmom]

this is seriously wonderful. I cant wait to try it on my granny smith. ? tho. When should you do this? anytime? summer? etc; also I hope you video the pruning as well cause I just don't get it. 3rd: is that comfrey you have growing? how do you use it? and 4th (sorry) how do you keep your mulch weed free...mine seems to help weeds thrive instead of deterring. thanks again for a great vid

[@daddykirbs]

I'm no expert (yet), but I would guess you could do this anytime you have a branch that needs it. On the pruning subject... yes I'll do a video, but I will present myself as "this is how I'm doing it", NOT "this is HOW TO do it". I've read way too many different opinions about how to do it that I'm just going to take my gut feeling and run with it. Yes, that is comfrey. Mostly it just grows there to help my fruit trees, but I have used it in topical salves as well. My mulch isn't really weed free. I do go up every once in a while and clip or pull the worst offenders. I appreciate your questions :)

[@sweetheartsmom]

Awesome. Don't worry. I don't think anyone on KZbin is an expert. You just give me ideas of stuff to do on my own. I will likely tweek it as well;

[@OldGardenerGuy]

I saw that you were growing big leafy plants around the base of your trees. What are they and do they have a purpose?

[@daddykirbs]

That is Comfrey and yes it does have a purpose. It has a very deep root system that is perfect for reaching down deep to bring up minerals to the surface. The fruit trees benefit from these minerals. This is also a great plant for medicinal purposes.

[@ClaytonRector]

Blake Kirby I was wondering the same thing! I'll keep Comfrey in mind for companion planting with some fruit trees I have in my plans!

[@jmoney6652]

Can this be done with 2-3 year old trees? Also is it too late to do this this year?

[@zaidanpn]

Hi I like the video And I will use it inmy class, good luck may u have another video in the future

[@daddykirbs]

+zaidan P.Negara Thank you for being here with me. I'm glad you like the videos. There are more coming out every week :)

[@jerryprewett5294]

i live in east central ok. what is a good time to plant fruit trees thx

[@daddykirbs]

Plant when the trees are dormant. Here in Texas I can still dig in the Winter. Normally i plant fruit trees in January. Whenever your ground is thawed try to plant a few bare root trees. Find a source for trees that is in your same zone and conditions.

[@vijaysajwan3130]

Which root stock ? Iam from india which one is good root stock ?

[@johnwaller5040]

What are the green leafy plants on ground

[@rheaadams1437]

How old is this tree?

[@ANGROCEL]

How far apart from my fruit trees should I plant comfrey?

[@daddykirbs]

I don't know that I can tell you how it "should" be done, but here's how I do it :) My Comfrey is about 18 to 24 inches away from the base of the tree. I figure it should grow in or near the drip line of the young tree. If someone knows a better method please chime in.

[@MoonOverHomelessness]

I've heard of this being done before. And it's something I'm even going to try with a Kwanzan Flowering Cherry (ornamental) tree this year. I have a Pink Lady Apple tree that has given me grief since the very first year, as far as the direction of the growth. And pruning just has not done us any favors. So, we're hoping this method will help us, as well.

[@Ange1Monty]

Do you have any current video of the tree? greetings from Mexico

[@daddykirbs]

I might... However this tree over time hasn't done well. none of the Apple trees have.

[@Ange1Monty]

that's a shame. what happended to the trees?

[@danny30g]

How long should I keep the branch tied up ???all summer ?? or maybe: for example, :one month is enough to form ??

[@daddykirbs]

I'll leave for a year