Author Topic: Avocado Tree tall and skinny, how to induce branching?  (Read 1947 times)

ThangBom321

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Avocado Tree tall and skinny, how to induce branching?
« on: November 15, 2017, 10:52:52 PM »
Hello, I have a Joey Avocado plant that I bought from a local garden center. The tree is about 7' tall with very little branching. The first few branches (4 or so) are about 3' off the ground. Then there are no branches for the next few feet before a few more branches branch out. How do I get this thing to branch out more? I have read where people are topping their plants to get to branch. Can I air layer the the plant in the non branch area then snip it once it roots? Ill post a picture of the tree tomorrow.

ThangBom

ThangBom321

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Re: Avocado Tree tall and skinny, how to induce branching?
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2017, 12:34:31 PM »



pineislander

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Re: Avocado Tree tall and skinny, how to induce branching?
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2017, 07:40:31 PM »
Pruning will induce branching and shape your tree, and make the trunk thicker. It looks like it may have been reaching for light. You should have asked for a discount when you bought "since I'll have to cut it down by half"
I would start by cutting it down by 1/2, about where the yellow tag is. Maybe do this just before avocado normally flushes new growth in your area. Don't be scared, if cared for properly it will be much happier "under new management".

Lory

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Re: Avocado Tree tall and skinny, how to induce branching?
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2017, 08:27:37 PM »
I completely agree.
Don't let by fooled by height, don't let your tree grow so tall skinny and weak.
Prune it severely and give it the best growing conditions (water, fertilizer, de-weeding ecc...)
your tree will thank you for that and will grow strong and healthy
Lorenzo

ThangBom321

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Re: Avocado Tree tall and skinny, how to induce branching?
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2017, 11:20:02 PM »
I'm not scared to chop it. I was already planning to. I was hoping if I could air layer it in hopes of having two plants.

ThangBom

Lory

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Re: Avocado Tree tall and skinny, how to induce branching?
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2017, 11:51:10 PM »
I never tried avocado air layering.
I know that cuttings are not easy  to root
Check this i hope it helps:
http://www.avocadosource.com/Journals/SFN/SFN_4_2_Pg4.pdf
Lorenzo

boxturtle

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Re: Avocado Tree tall and skinny, how to induce branching?
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2017, 01:11:09 AM »
if you want two plants you can probably try grafting but I would wait for it to get warmer

FamilyJ

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Re: Avocado Tree tall and skinny, how to induce branching?
« Reply #7 on: November 26, 2017, 08:21:44 AM »
as said before i chopped my down to nothing and now alot of new thick nice growth, i used this method on Mango's also many times they only had one or 2 growth spots