This tree is at about the point where we won’t top it any longer.
Great images and caption! Looks like you got a branch stairway to the durian heaven
So I assume you didn't cut a lot when you topped the tree, just the "apex" crown kinda.
So you will let that tree grow taller now? As you said it was a tool to get the lower laterals to where you want them.
So you don't have an issue with flying animals wanting a pice of the durian?
Cookatoos love durian here so I will have to bag them (they go for low hanging fruit also), and a stairway is prefered when climbing. But would have to keep the tree lower to reduce the amount of climbing so the topping would be a lifelong process here.
Peter, have you seen the growth of a durian tree in PH 7?
7 is balance (14\2=7), and decomposted woodchips is close to or 7 which would be the what the absolute topsoil would be made of in it's native range.
subsoil ph will be different.
That's a beautiful fruit Mike! Have tried them and they are great!
Jim, when I put a tiny dripper 2L/h and wood (chips, trunks etc) around some durian seedlings they stared to grow very vigourously compared to before. One seedling is 2,3m after 1 year, planted the seed direct in ground. With the dripp they don't get stunted in the dry any more but mulch and compost only could work, I just can't get enough of that here and it's hard to "chop and drop mulch" enough around hundreds of tree's alone.