Your Best Limb Spreaders? Looking for advice

[gumbo2go]

I've seen several types of limb spreaders on the web.   Has anyone field tested different limb spreaders?

Many thanks,
JJ

[growinginphoenix]

I have been using a string with a wire hook on one end and brick on the other to control limb direction. I make the string really long and then wrap it around the brick to shorten as needed. Its the only thing I have used but it works well enough that I'm not motivated to find anything different.

[gumbo2go]

Old school but it works fine.

[nofspeppers]

I've tried a couple different ones, this link to the blue spreaders being my favorite. I've also tried the popular red one that have two forks on each end, but they dig into the bark a little and are more likely to get knocked off when branches sway in the wind.

The downside side to these blue ones is sometimes there isn't a way to mount them in the direction you want. They are great for training main branches off of the central leader though. I've left them outside multiple winters and none have broken. This summer will be my 4th year using the same ones



https://a.co/d/ddmGlRt

[GrowerA]

Bonsai wire,string or trellis ..  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OFX6_SjUMs

[gumbo2go]

Bonsai wire?  Great idea