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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Slowing tree growth once mature and bearing fruit yearly to decrease trimming.
« on: August 01, 2023, 01:47:59 PM »
I see this search so often, especially by the "experts" looking for ways to decrease expense of trimming hundreds of trees after fruit harvest. The current way is by trimming part of the canopy after harvest. I will propose other ways for them to ponder:::
1. The relationship between canopy and root system. Instead of canopy reduction, focus your attention on root system reduction as there is a parallel relationship between the two.
One of the factors to consider is decreasing root size without causing root disease and some options will work better than others IMO but have not tried them, just imagined the outcomes.
A. Cutting roots with machinery like a ditch witch around the canopy; however this might be just as time consuming/expensive as just cutting part of the canopy.
B. Adding substances to the soil to stress the tree and decrease tree growth (this will probably increase the odds of fruit set and bloom the following year IMO).
1. Borates/boric acid: already known to be needed in small amounts by the tree. However larger amounts should decrease root growth/canopy growth. It is just a matter of determining the dosage without killing the tree. It should be quicker/less expensive than canopy cutting reduction.
2. Copper/various formulations: already known to be needed in small amounts by the tree. However larger amounts should decrease root growth/canopy growth. Unknown dosage to stress the tree without killing the tree.
3. Magnesium/chlorine: already known to be needed in small amounts by the tree. However larger amounts should decrease root growth/canopy growth. Unknown dosage to stress the tree without killing the tree.
4. Calcium and all the other minerals: most minerals are known to be needed in small amounts by the tree. However larger amounts of most should be able to decrease root growth/canopy growth.
5. Soil Ph adjustments: once again root growth can be slowed by lowering/raising PH soil levels to unfavorable levels to decrease root and canopy growth.
Make the soil environment favorable to the tree when small and growing. Then change the soil environment to less favorable to growth once the tree is bearing fruit to your satisfaction and maturity size.
It is my belief that if you desire to save money/ time on tree trimming, these options should be explored more.
1. The relationship between canopy and root system. Instead of canopy reduction, focus your attention on root system reduction as there is a parallel relationship between the two.
One of the factors to consider is decreasing root size without causing root disease and some options will work better than others IMO but have not tried them, just imagined the outcomes.
A. Cutting roots with machinery like a ditch witch around the canopy; however this might be just as time consuming/expensive as just cutting part of the canopy.
B. Adding substances to the soil to stress the tree and decrease tree growth (this will probably increase the odds of fruit set and bloom the following year IMO).
1. Borates/boric acid: already known to be needed in small amounts by the tree. However larger amounts should decrease root growth/canopy growth. It is just a matter of determining the dosage without killing the tree. It should be quicker/less expensive than canopy cutting reduction.
2. Copper/various formulations: already known to be needed in small amounts by the tree. However larger amounts should decrease root growth/canopy growth. Unknown dosage to stress the tree without killing the tree.
3. Magnesium/chlorine: already known to be needed in small amounts by the tree. However larger amounts should decrease root growth/canopy growth. Unknown dosage to stress the tree without killing the tree.
4. Calcium and all the other minerals: most minerals are known to be needed in small amounts by the tree. However larger amounts of most should be able to decrease root growth/canopy growth.
5. Soil Ph adjustments: once again root growth can be slowed by lowering/raising PH soil levels to unfavorable levels to decrease root and canopy growth.
Make the soil environment favorable to the tree when small and growing. Then change the soil environment to less favorable to growth once the tree is bearing fruit to your satisfaction and maturity size.
It is my belief that if you desire to save money/ time on tree trimming, these options should be explored more.