Opening up apple trees

[new gardener 1052]

Good evening all, hope you guys can help. I have a few apple trees growing as bush style,
I'm worried about getting enough light and air through the tree. I was thinking of tieing a few of the branches down in the horizontal position. To open up the tree will doing this put the tree under too mush stress and cause harm?

The tree is still young only planted this year, & some of the branches are quite flexible.

Many thanks Steve.

[ESBkevin]

I took one tree about 12 years old and transplanted it by cutting top and roots back. I then trained it espalier style on wires. Last year no fruit but this year there are lots so far. Trees are hardy but prune at the right time (winter) when dormant.

[new gardener 1052]

Thanks esbkevin, wasn't thinking of pruning the tree just yet, don't really want to cut off any of the branches, just tie them down, glad to hear your tree is setting fruit this year.

[veggiechicken]

Try http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tooning-3.html

[new gardener 1052]

Hi vg, I had never heard of this. But I did think can I just tie the branches to the fence or stake, I didn't know there is a name for it.

[maverick451]

Im a beginner so someone may be able to give you much better advice than me but thats what I have done, I dont see how it is any different than tieing down branches to make a step over or fan shape which folks do all the time.

Aslong as the benches are young and flexible I cant see it doing much harm, the reason I have done mine is its on very dwarf root stock and id rather tie over prune.

When I go and collect cherries from a commercial cherry orchard (you can rent a tree) they tie down branches.

[new gardener 1052]

Think I will give it a go, I don't want to bend the branches too much. I've seen some clips online and some folk have bent the branches back down so they face the ground.

[maverick451]

where do you the clips from?

[Guest]

I just fill a bottle with water and tie the branch to that. I am currently trying to reshape a pear as there isn't enough growth on it to lose through pruning