Scoring the leader

[DLH]

Does anyone do this with their Apple or pear trees? I thought someone had discussed this on the old forum.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Yes, if you are trying to get a bud to form a new branch. Score just above the bud as the buds begin to swell in the spring on last years wood. I use a hacksaw blade.

 

[DLH]

Thanks just down to the cambium above the bud where you want a branch to form? That's seems simple enough I'll give that a try this year. That go for any fruit trees or does it work better for some than others?

 

[Turkey Creek]

Make the cut through the cambium layer. I have done it on apple and pear. I would assume that it will work on all fruit trees. You are just stopping the flow hormones long enough from the tip of the leader to get the branch initiated.

 

[CAS_HNTR]

I did it on several trees in my yard......most of them responded with good new growth. I did have a few that did not really do much but I think that is more a function of the fact that it was older wood I was trying to "branch"