Learn how we prune!

View in browser A Deeper Look into Pruning People often ask us what keeps us occupied in the winter when there is “nothing to do.” Well, let me tell you; on a farm there is absolutely never “nothing to do!” One of the most under-talked about tasks that orchardists do year after year is the job of pruning the trees. This job keeps Lance and Tom gainfully employed for months on end. Today we are going to dive into the subject to give you a better understanding of what this looks like. On our farm we grow approximately 80 acres of fruit trees; that’s over 100,000 trees! Each one of these trees needs to be carefully tended by hand year after year. During the winter and early spring, while the trees are still dormant, it is time to prune. Lance, sometimes accompanied by Tom or other employees, goes through the whole orchard with a pair of hand-shears for the regular branches, and a handsaw to help with the bigger cuts. There are many factors that alter the way each tree is pruned such as the rootstock, variety, age and health of the tree, etc.. Branches that are damaged, that are competing with the leader or that are too close together or large are removed. The top of the tree is more heavily pruned than the lower branches to allow more light interception and a balanced crop load throughout the tree. Because of the many factors that play into the way each tree is pruned, there is no mechanized way to replace good, old-fashioned hand work! However, there are a few things that have changed in the last fifty years or so that have simplified the job. The first, and most dramatic, change is that most trees are only a fraction of the size that they used to be (see picture of Grandpa Bob at the farm when he was eight years old). These days apple trees are grafted onto dwarf rootstocks so that they grow to be about eight to twelve feet tall, rather than twenty to thirty feet like back in the day. This results in a thin tree canopy, enabling high quality fruit due to the amount of light interception. It also makes pruning less laboursome. Lance’s average pruning speed is about forty-five seconds per tree as opposed to the forty-five minutes that it would have taken to prune each tree when they were full size. There have also been some improvements in the equipment available to do the job. Some people like to use electric hand-shears which saves on energy for days when they are pruning for hours on end. Heavy wooden ladders have been replaced with lightweight aluminum ladders, streamlining the job of reaching the tops of trees. We recently invested in a platform called an N.Blosi, which almost eliminates the need for ladders altogether! This amazing machine is a platform on wheels that drives itself along the row of trees, self-leveling as it goes. It can be raised and lowered as needed. This makes pruning the tops of the trees much more efficient. It is also extremely handy for jobs like thinning the apple crop and picking the fruit (see attached video). Pruning fruit trees is a large job, but well worth it. When trees are properly maintained the quality of fruit is much higher, the overall health of the tree is better and the life of the tree is longer. I think the same can be said about us; when we take the time in our lives to prune away bad habits and thoughts, what we produce is of higher quality and our health and quality of life are improved. So what are we waiting for? Let’s get pruning! Rachel, For the Family Our new cookbook is coming soon! We are open three weeks from today! Real Fruit Ice Cream Spring Orchards Tours Crazy Cows Kid Corral Giftshop, and much more! "to be a sustainable farm business that builds loyal customers, fulfilled staff and positive memories in a wholesome environment for our community to enjoy." Davison Orchards 3111 Davison Road, Vernon 250-549-3266   Davisonorchards.ca I want to unsubscribe