Instructions / Assembly

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make the most pleasing-looking, bushy plant. Such
pruning also allows for good air circulation through
the crown, and that prevents disease.
Central Leader
Apples and pears, which bear large crops of heavy
fruit, should be pruned to form a central leader. This
system encourages the growth of strong side branch-
es from one main trunk. Remove branches growing
from the trunk to maintain open space between limbs,
and also thin the secondary branches that grow from
these limbs. Prune to allow sunlight and air to reach
the center of the tree.
Modified leader
This method began the same as the central
leader system, with one strong central trunk.
Eventually though, you must prune the central leader
to form several leaders. The modified leader system is
generally easier to maintain because most fruit trees
tend to grow in this way naturally.
Open center
Also called the vase system, this method lets plen-
ty of light and air into the center of the tree, but it
also makes for weaker branches and is not rec-
ommended for apples and pears. It is well suited
to quinces, crabapples, plums, cherries, peaches, nec-
tarines, and apricots. Be sure to prune so as to avoid
making lots of limbs arise from nearly the same point
of the trunk, or weak crotches will result.
PRUNING FRUIT TREES
Central Leader Open Center Modified Leader
There are three generally accepted systems for pruning fruit trees,
each designed to produce a different configuration of main branches
and secondary and lateral branches.