Apple branch squeezed (forum)

Xuyang starts with ...
my apple branch was squeezed by the plastic tie, after a year became like this.. will it heal, or should i cut it back and let new branch grow out?
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Picture: 1

Time: 16th July 2018 9:46pm

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brad16 says...
Injuries like that make it easier for diseases and pests to infect it.

Personally I'd cut it off just under the scar. It will be bushier, but you'll be eliminating possible future problems.

It will gradually heal somewhat, but the location of it on the main shoot is not a good place for an injury. The injury is high enough to still provide a decent amount of coppicing below it.

Time: 17th July 2018 12:40pm

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Manfred says...
That doesn't look too bad to me, but how does that branch feature in your overall plan for that tree?

I'd probably be inclined to leave it. Plants don't heal but they do overgrow damage like that and a young tree will quickly cover minor damage early in life. That's a fruiting spur just below it so expect fruit soon.

Time: 17th July 2018 8:46pm

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Fruitylicious1 says...
Hi xuyang

It will heal in time.

Time: 18th July 2018 6:58am

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Xuyang says...
Hi, that branch is the right lower arm for horizontal cordon esplasier, in this case should i leave it, or cut it? it is a young tree, second year I had it from bunnings

Time: 18th July 2018 9:40am

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brad16 says...
Ok, so it's an espalier. I thought the plant was on it's side in the photo.

Wow, everyone is espalier-ating (my word: patent #00001).

Fruity and you will get along just fine!

Time: 19th July 2018 5:59pm

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Fruitylicious1 says...
Hi Xu

BTW Thanks Brad for the espalier mention. There's two WAyS you can approach this problem.
1. Leave it as it is and it will heal in time.
2. Cut off the damaged part now and a new shoot will come out to replace the lost limb next spring.

Either way the growth of the arm will continue to compliment the structure of your cordon espalier. The choice is yours.

Happy gardening :-)


Time: 20th July 2018 2:38pm

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Original Post was last edited: 20th July 2018 2:38pm

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Fruitylicious1 says...
Hi Xu

I might add a third approach to your damaged stem conundrum. You can cut the damaged part and graft a cross pollination compatible apple variety to your espaliered apple tree. You can graft a long mature fruiting stem with almost the same diameter as the intended stock. Once the graft is successful you wouldn't miss a thing in addition to a two way espaliered apple cv to your gaden.

Happy gardening :-)

Time: 22nd July 2018 3:34pm

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