Tree Training Theory; make your tree grow the way you want!

One should not misunderstand the term pruning. People mostly think that giving your tree a certain style or shape is known as pruning but this is a false idea. Changing the structure or shape of tree has been given another name and that is ‘Tree Training’. Pruning is basically a way to prevent the tree from becoming crooked and dis-balanced. Moreover it is used to prevent diseases and to encourage healthier fruit growth.

Pruning don’t give your tree a proper shape, it only maintains the shape you have achieved through ‘Tree Training’. Tree sometimes starts growing too many branches on only one side of the tree which can distort the vertical structure of the tree badly. That is where pruning comes in; you can remove the un-necessary branches using different pruning techniques. So pruning is just marinating your tree shape not altering the tree shape.

Pruning: Not a New Concept:

The word training is not old in tree growing world. In Tree Training you can direct the growth of tree in any wanted shape by simply tying down branches or propping them up from the ground. Tree training is normally used in initial period of tree just to make sure that tree grows in every direction but it can be used effectively in later years of growth also. If you do proper tree training in earlier years of tree, you can save lot of pruning efforts later.

Summer time is the best time for training. The theme of Tree training is that you try to redirect un-necessary braches instead of chopping them off. We can relate the tree training process to orthodontic braces which a dentist sets on the patient’s teeth. Braces pull or push your teeth in the direction best for your teeth structure. Slowly and steadily your teeth starts growing in that specific direction naturally. Same happens in this tree training process!!

Tree Training is All About Generating Ideas:

Tree training needs a lot of planning and thinking as there are lots of ways you can do it. You have to choose the form in which you want your tree to be. Some training techniques let your tree grow very dense and that is best if you want to grow an orchard. Some techniques increase maximum fruit bearing per tree. Give your tree any shape depending on how you want your tree to function. Always go for the tree shape that you think is perfect for your situation.

If you are thinking that tree training theory is not useful for those who want their tree to grow in standard form, you are wrong. Okay what If your tree branches start growing too close to each other that they start blocking out each other? Of course in this case you need to train them to grow in other direction so that excessive pruning can be avoided later. So a tree planter needs to know what training means, if he/she wants his experience to be successful and easy.

Use Out side Braces:

To guide a tree, you will need some kind of outside brace to push or pull a branch. If you want two branches to be close you can simply tie them by using a rope. Similarly if you want two branches to grow away from each other you can put something between them. So training actually needs thinking from you. Just imagine the different ways you can teach your tree in order to make it do what you want. You can use stakes, fences and things like that to implement tree training practically.

Every tree grower takes lot of benefits from tree training theory. You can use tree training techniques no matter whether you want to completely change the shape of your tree or simply want to optimize the branch placement for healthier fruit.