The Grounded Orchardist

One thing very noticeable with our changing climate here in the UK is the windy weather and this year has been no exception. We’re not talking gale force winds all the time but a lot of windy days.

As we speak there is a storm outside. It’s unseasonal to have that much wind at this time of year and that causes damage to the tree. I looked at the forecast and started to tie in trees. This involves checking each tree and making an assessment on its sturdiness. We use twine to tie in our trees as its natural and quickly rots down. The main problem with this is it doesn’t last very long but you could use purpose made tree ties, rubber etc which last a lot longer.

An example of tieing in trees and maintenance

Tieing in trained fruit

The other angle for the importance of tieing in trees is for aesthetics. You may need to tie in a lot to keep or add to your chosen trained fruit design and at many times in the year. The new growth is pliable, so easily trained and you need to do this before the whippy growth gets hard and woody (lignifies).

Tips for tieing in your fruit trees

• Is there a storm forecast? If so, check your trees.
• Is the tree top heavy? Do you need to thin fruit of branches more? The wind will catch any top heavy growth.
• Leave room for growth. Do not tie your trees in too tight. The wood expands with growth and there’s even movement with water. You don’t want to strangle your tree or cause that to be the snapping point.
• Does the centre leader need tieing in? Birds like to sit on centre leaders which can cause breakages.
• Make sure the tree is sturdy all the way up. Check the middles, any excessive give needs to be tied in as well as the tops.
• Check your trees regularly to keep the strong.