エドガー
Shohin
How should I prune & train my young bare-root Ume whips for garden/niwaki?
I planted them in-ground just last fall. 1 has grown vigorously with 4-6’ long shoots (white ume). The other (pink ume), grew shoots too; but not as wild'y as the other. Idk the exact cultivars of either.
From what I’ve researched, I’m supposed to choose 3-5 main branches/scaffolds and remove the rest, correct? If, yes, when and how short? (ideally, I want an open-center, vase style.. maybe a small leader if anything)
I assume I should wait until dormant? Because, from what I’ve studied of horticulture, any pruning in the summer is just “wasted energy” from its’ Spring growth and energy deficit. And Fall time is when a tree re-gains energy back into the vascular and roots for next year. So, wait until dormant, or cut in summer?
I'm hesitant to cut right now, as it was just planted in ground and needs time to establish and develop.
Also, length… How short? I’ve read many different things. From cutting off 1/4-1/2 the length of those new long shoots for its’ future main scaffolds and branch structure.. and, I've also read cut back to 2-4 nodes (which would really mean a super short stump of a branch.. and sounds like a mistake). I assume that “2-4 nodes” thing we commonly read is when the tree is fully developed already and/or for refinement and fine ramification (which my trees is obviously not in the refinement stages yet).
So, is it correct to reduce and remove most of the existing branches to form the main scaffolding and main-branches? Keep only 3-5 main branches? How short to cut for the next few seasons and years? And, exactly when to prune and branch select them? Also, for how long do I follow these structural development prunings?
Additionally… once they’re a bit older and the main scaffolds/branches are finally built and developed, what’s a good schedule guideline to prune for maintenance and size upkeep?
Mid summer prune to reduce size and any reduce any long shoots down?
And, also prune in winter/dormant to clean up any un-ideal branches? (crossing, pointing back at trunk, crotch, straight verticals, non-tapered, etc., etc.).
Or, is it better to prune after it first blooms in late-winter or early-spring?
Here they are in June:
Here are the bare-root whips when I got them:
I planted them in-ground just last fall. 1 has grown vigorously with 4-6’ long shoots (white ume). The other (pink ume), grew shoots too; but not as wild'y as the other. Idk the exact cultivars of either.
From what I’ve researched, I’m supposed to choose 3-5 main branches/scaffolds and remove the rest, correct? If, yes, when and how short? (ideally, I want an open-center, vase style.. maybe a small leader if anything)
I assume I should wait until dormant? Because, from what I’ve studied of horticulture, any pruning in the summer is just “wasted energy” from its’ Spring growth and energy deficit. And Fall time is when a tree re-gains energy back into the vascular and roots for next year. So, wait until dormant, or cut in summer?
I'm hesitant to cut right now, as it was just planted in ground and needs time to establish and develop.
Also, length… How short? I’ve read many different things. From cutting off 1/4-1/2 the length of those new long shoots for its’ future main scaffolds and branch structure.. and, I've also read cut back to 2-4 nodes (which would really mean a super short stump of a branch.. and sounds like a mistake). I assume that “2-4 nodes” thing we commonly read is when the tree is fully developed already and/or for refinement and fine ramification (which my trees is obviously not in the refinement stages yet).
So, is it correct to reduce and remove most of the existing branches to form the main scaffolding and main-branches? Keep only 3-5 main branches? How short to cut for the next few seasons and years? And, exactly when to prune and branch select them? Also, for how long do I follow these structural development prunings?
Additionally… once they’re a bit older and the main scaffolds/branches are finally built and developed, what’s a good schedule guideline to prune for maintenance and size upkeep?
Mid summer prune to reduce size and any reduce any long shoots down?
And, also prune in winter/dormant to clean up any un-ideal branches? (crossing, pointing back at trunk, crotch, straight verticals, non-tapered, etc., etc.).
Or, is it better to prune after it first blooms in late-winter or early-spring?
Here they are in June:
Here are the bare-root whips when I got them: