Supports for apple trees

With the arrival of August comes the pouring of apple fruits. And it so happens that under the weight of the ripening fruits, the branches of the apple tree lean lower and lower towards the ground. Which can lead to cracks and breaking them. To avoid this, it is necessary to immediately help the plant to preserve and preserve the branches and trunks, without losing the crop. The main thing is to take care of the safety of the branches in time, until the fruits bent the branches even more and break them. It is at this moment that the supports for the apple trees are urgently installed, in this case, for the branches. They use various planks, ordinary poles, sticks, poles, and even metal and plastic pipes. Almost everything goes into action. In this article we will tell you how to properly make a props under an apple tree. And what will be better for your garden - choose after you.

Props for apple trees do it yourself

Supports for apple trees with their own hands: photo

The very first and most important rule when installing any support is in no case to use untested poles and poles for strength. It is better then to use something metallic, so that it does not happen that when the support you made is broken, the entire branch of the apple tree from the trunk does not break off.

Telescopic supports for apple trees

To make such a support for an apple tree, it is required to prepare metal-plastic or plastic water pipes in advance. Moreover, such a diameter that one pipe could freely enter the other. After you put them in, you need to drill holes in two pipes at the same time, with an approximate diameter of 0.5-1 centimeters, depending on the size of the pipes. This is done in order to make it easier to make adjustments in height, if necessary.

Support for apple tree branches made of fiberglass reinforcement. After the height you need has already been made, bolts with nuts of the required diameter are inserted into these holes made, and, accordingly, tightened. Having acquired plastic fragments in the form of planks, you need to heat them and bend them so that separate parts similar to the letter C are obtained. Then, at the end of thin pipes, fix them flat, and attach any soft material, for example, thermal insulation, on the inside. All this to collect and substitute under the branches of a tree.

Another way is to make a pipe mount. Duralumin pipes in the form of nesting dolls. The smaller one ends with hooks on one end, and the other end is placed in a larger pipe. To obtain pipes of the required length, they are pushed apart, unscrewed and fixed. To do this, holes are drilled in advance with the same distance, where bolts or locking wedges are then inserted.

Small pipes should be half an inch in diameter, and large ones should be about three-quarters, or one inch. The configuration of the hooks helps not only to bend or bend tree branches, but also to collect moth caterpillar nests from them, and also to remove dried fruits. For these hooks, steel wire is used with a thickness of about one centimeter, not more.

How to make supports under an apple tree using the umbrella chatalovka method

There is a way to ease the suffering of overloaded branches. You should tie the branches to one single defined support pipe or post, previously buried next to the tree trunk. From this pillar, the so-called threads of wire will depart, which are attached through rings or loops for branches to the branches of the tree.

For this, separate elements of old tires are suitable, in which branches are placed. Also, for the installation of such a retaining device, there must be a garden stepladder. The main stand of this support is made a little higher than the apple tree to be tied, by about 30-40 centimeters, and support threads made of wire or plastic are fixed directly on it. After that, the branches are tied through rubber, or something similar to them, rings to their end.

But it happens that such a problem arises - the trunk of the apple tree is crooked, or the tree itself is very low. In this case, an iron pipe or a plastic pole is dug in next to the tree trunk. But it is quite strong and strong, with a length approximately equal to the apple tree itself, well, or slightly higher. At the high end of such a pipe or pole, a special circle is made of rather strong steel wire. The other end of the pipe is dug deeper into the ground. With the help of ropes or pieces of soft wire, branches of a tree with soft linings are tied to the upper ring.

A minimum of two people will be required to install the support structure under the apple tree to ensure balance and uniformity of the load. As soft pads for branches, so as not to accidentally damage them, you should use: rubber bandage, separate parts of the old garden hose, old tire tubes, tires from mopeds, and also elastomer.

They are cut across the ring into separate pieces of approximately 10 centimeters, and after that, in each such lining of the future, two holes are made from the edge. Further, this fragment is applied to the shoot from below, and the holes should be on top. You need to thread a wire into these holes, or a wire from our iron pipe and tie it in a knot.

The advantage of this device is that it will serve you throughout the year; it should not be removed and put away for the winter. The design will protect the branches not only from the severity of the fruit, but also from strong gusty winds and abundant snow cover in winter.

Supports under the apple tree: stands with a spear

The most, perhaps, the simplest and most elementary means for supporting weighted branches of an apple tree is the so-called horned branches from the forest. Will serve as an excellent natural stand for apple branches. But so that it does not accidentally spoil the layer of bark on the tree, pre-cut rubber tubes should be pulled along this rogueline.

These tubes can be obtained from, for example, a rubber tire, or an old damaged irrigation hose. You can also do this: attach a piece of wood with a board. Next, the plank is placed on the ground, and a weighted branch of an apple tree is placed on the rogulin with the letter U. After the rogulin, it is fastened with two self-tapping screws into this thickened plate, but so that the end of the rogulin does not go into the ground.

Thanks to this method, the supports for the branches are exactly the length that is needed. And it would be good to use the spear to fit the parts of the hose of the required diameter, or just wrap it with rubber. After harvesting, the wooden supports should be removed under the roof or in a barn-type room. After all, they may come in handy again next year, so they need to be saved.

There is one piece of advice from experienced gardeners. In order not to overload the branches with fruits, you need to remove a small part of the ovaries with vigorous shaking.

Metal supports for apple trees

It is required to very carefully examine the branches of mature trees. And most of all at the moment when these branches are completely overloaded with ripe fruits. At this moment, an urgent need to build a support for the branches of the apple tree.

This can be tying branches to supports, supporting supports under tree branches, connecting branches with each other and with a trunk. The strongest and most durable are metal supports. They can be made by hand using metal pipes of any diameter.

The only drawback is that it will cost more in sum, and it will look more massive. In order to somehow reduce costs, you can use used pipes.And when using aluminum as a base, you can also reduce the weight of the support. The main thing is to know the length of the backups.

Let's consider how to correctly make such props under the branches of apple trees. First of all, you need to saw off the pipes about half the length you need. Next, we drill a few holes. We set the pipe of the smallest diameter with a fork attached to the top to the height we need.

Then we combine the holes and strengthen them further with a fairly thick nail threaded through and through. This is how this support turns out. We recommend that you initially substitute the supports under the upper branches, and then only under the lower ones of those trees that first begin to bear fruit (in summer). And then under the later varieties of apple trees. This advice is even more suitable for those plantings that grow in highly ventilated areas.

Ladder as a support

Another type of support structure is such an installation, which is very similar to a bookcase or step-ladder. It is done this way. On both sides of the tree trunk, at a distance of approximately 50 centimeters, two sticks are set in the form of the letter J. Moreover, the lower ends of the sticks should be even and deepen approximately 12 centimeters. While between each other they are fixed with separate small sticks, due to which a staircase is obtained.

Overloaded tree branches are attached to sticks, where they are supported by wire or soft wire. If the branches of a tree grow equally throughout the crown, then it is not necessary to attach this structure to the trunk. Since the branches of the apple tree placed in different directions act as weights, thanks to which the whole device becomes sufficiently stable.

Some gardeners slightly modify this design, and put not two, but three or even four main poles. This design turns out to be not only quite hardy, but also comfortable enough for a small garden. And if you also make the cross sticks strong, then the device will indeed turn into a ladder, with the help of which you can then easily harvest.

How exactly to support the trees is up to the gardener himself. But it would be more logical and easier to put a support more durable and hardy, which can last for several years without getting out for the winter. All this in the event that apple trees grow in your garden with very large, stable and good fruiting.

In the case of growing apple varieties with a small and rather irregular yield. Also, as for young apple trees, it will be better to use temporary props. So that it is possible to quickly substitute, when necessary, a support under the branch, and when it is not necessary to remove it.

How to make T-shaped supports for apple tree branches

Such a support comes out due to the connection of two sticks in the form of the letter T. In the case when the tree branches are also large with a large harvest, then this support can also be fixed by nailing two more sticks from both sides at an angle. From one end of the stick to the sheer pole. After that, this support is brought under the branch. But only by placing the structure in such a way that its main load falls on this support. At the same time, a perpendicular stick is inserted into a hole about 15 centimeters deep and instilled.

If necessary, put several props.

Very strong and reliable tree supports are quadrangular pyramids... With their help, it is possible to unload heavy branches at absolutely any height. To make such a pyramid, two pairs of trapezoids should be placed opposite each other. Moreover, the gap between the frames themselves is made the same exactly as the gap between the lowest ends of the frame struts.

Thanks to this method, the result is a structure in the form of a quadrangular pyramid. The uppermost ends of the frames are tilted and then held together. Then weighted tree branches are placed on them.

Here's one more option for a support for apple trees.Choose a fairly strong and thick pole. It is cleaned of bark and attached to the trunk, while deepening by 18-20 centimeters, approximately. After that, the end of a rather thick natural rope, or a thin rope, is taken, while fixing it at the very top of this pole. The other end of the rope or rope is wrapped around the desired branch of the tree, making a knot a retainer. This design can help relieve the suffering of about 6 branches.

How to make supports for an apple tree in the form of strengthening branches from splits

The main reasons for the splitting of the branches of the apple tree are considered to be a high and rather abundant yield, rather strong gusty winds and a large amount of precipitation in winter. And this has a very negative effect on the apple tree. And, which is very important, to the level of the current and future harvest. In order to prevent the splitting of the branches of the apple tree, you will be helped by fairly simple tips on how to lift the branches, written below.

Split protection rings

The most important and important task of any gardener at the end of summer is to help the tree keep a large amount of harvest on the branches. Otherwise, it may happen that under a sufficiently large weight from abundant fruits, as well as very strong gusts of wind, the branches of the apple tree may break off. But worst of all, the trunk of a tree can split.

To help the gardener to protect against splitting branches and trunk, protective rings will come to the rescue. They should be made of a fairly sturdy iron band that will be tightened with a bolt. Put on protective rings in the middle of the crown. Do this even before bud break, in the spring.

In order not to accidentally damage the bark of the apple tree in places where it touches with the hoop, the iron should be wrapped with a simple elastic cord, well, or with simple rags. The ring itself is secured with small gauge steel hooks. You can paint this structure with oil paint. Then it will look much nicer outwardly.

A good way to avoid splitting is to tie the limbs and branches of the tree with thick wire and self-tapping screws. Self-tapping screws are screwed with rings attached to them into the stem and into the tree branches from the outside, while maintaining one centimeter to the cap. Further, this steel wire is passed through the rings and the tree branching is fixed.

How to lift a fallen apple tree

After a bad weather, an apple tree fell in your garden. What to do? Before taking any action, you must first find out the answers to some questions.

• How old is the tree?
• Where did the break occur in the tree trunk?
• What happened to the stem: has it split, is completely broken, or is it still sticking to the wood?
• How much time has passed since the incident occurred?
• How densely is the apple tree with which this happened?
• Is it possible to leave the apple tree in this state until the harvest is fully ripe?

We answer:

If this happened to a sufficiently young tree, and the scrap did not happen completely, then there is a possibility of preserving fruit on it. Although it would still be better to try to strengthen the tree, and collect the fruits themselves. Otherwise, there is a chance of plant death.

If the apple tree, along with the roots, was turned out of the ground, and this happened just a couple of hours ago, then you should immediately raise the tree to the maximum from the previous height, and support it with supports. Further, with the integrity of the stem and root of the plant, a bunch of sufficiently nutritious and loose soil should be thrown over a large-rooted place. Moreover, to do this so that the soil completely covers all the pulled out roots.

After these actions, shield this hillock with shields so that it is not washed away by heavy rain. Water it regularly with fertilizer intended for seedlings. This is done so that the roots of the plant receive easily digestible nutrition. Further, if you see an intensive growth of the apple tree, then you can leave the tree like that.Let it grow in this position, just the apple tree will acquire an oblique crown or itself will take a horizontal appearance. In the case of a flake of 2/3 of the diameter of the trunk, or if the flake happened some time ago, then the crop cannot be saved and combined. All actions will be meaningless.

Here it will only be correct to remove the split off part of the plant. Cover all wounds with red lead on natural linseed oil and take care of, and try to reanimate the remaining branches. In this case, the fruits are necessarily harvested, all without exception.

Supports for dwarf and columnar apple trees: rim or trellis and ring

The best helper for preserving the harvest of dwarf apple trees and apple-tree columns is to tie them on a trellis. This method will negate numerous problems, such as: a very thickened crown of the plant, breakage and splitting of shoots, low tolerance to winter precipitation, as well as rather heavy rains and winds in summer.

And this method will also increase the yield, as well as increase the quality and taste of the fruit. The trellis should be made of thick wire, which is fixed along the edges of the line on poles or a special device made of wire rod. Branches and branches of the apple tree are tied to the trellis with natural twine, plastic clamps or washcloth.

A wonderful support for spreading and small-sized apple trees is a bicycle wheel hoop made of various cuttings of pipes, which is fixed on 3-4 pegs under the crown of the apple tree. And to soften the bark of apple twigs, a foam rubber band is used, which is wrapped around the rim and secured with simple electrical tape.

With a strong growth of the tree, you need to knock down a strip rim-ring from thick iron, in which there are five spokes. It is strengthened on 4 posts made of pieces of pipes. This installation must be painted with oil paint before tying branches to it. And then wrap it with matting or a thick layer of old agrofibre. This is so that a soft layer is created that does not harm the bark by friction. And also it will not let the iron burn the bark in the summer, as when heated, and when freezing it in the winter.

Arc support for branches

It often happens that apple trees produce such a high yield of fruits that the branches of the tree simply begin to break from such a heaviness. To prevent this trouble, gardeners adapt special arch supports in the crown.

For this, thick rubber is cut into pieces from a conveyor belt, or, as an option, tractor tires. They are fixed on the branches of the apple tree and arcs made of thick steel or stainless wire are inserted between them. It turns out such an interesting cocoon of tree branches.

For small branches, you can apply rubber from the bicycle tube. The protective material can be cut with a hacksaw, or chopped with an ax. And to punch holes in the rubber, use a sharpened slate nail. These arcs can be placed in a position from 35 to 55 degrees from the plane.

Remember that in no case should you support only the edges of the tree branches, or only the base of the branches. Do not lift the branches very strongly and try not to disturb their starting position.

Conclusion

Sufficiently high yield, strong gusty winds, falling of a large amount of wet snow during frost is often the main reason for breaking and splitting branches in fruit trees. And this has a very negative effect on the apple tree itself, and on the quality and quantity of the harvest of the present and future. And only correctly placed supports for apple trees will help to preserve and protect the branches of the plant and the tree as a whole.