CONTROL OF TREE VIGOR BY MECHANICAL HEDGING

Summer hedging of apple trees as a substitute for winter pruning has been continuously evaluated since 1974. Test orchard includes Ryan Red Delicious, Anderson Jonathan, and Golden Delicious on M 7 rootstock planted in 1962 and trained to a flat fan configuration. Treatments include 1) Standard winter pruning, 2) Winter hedging, 3) Summer hedging, and 4) Winter pruning plus summer hedging. Both winter hedging and summer hedging have maintained yields while summer hedging has resulted in improvement in fruit color, more uniform ripening and a substantial reduction in labor expense for pruning.