Hi Ellen. Nice video Win. In Ireland we have used it in winter also, but it is hard work (rough on the hands), so limited to shoots produced in the last season. Gives less grow-back than pruning I believe. Probably less axillary buds left, and maybe less young tissue to produce adventitious buds?
Con Traas Ellen, we use it most for suckers and stiping leaders in June. When they are pulled off they do not grow back. Here is a You tube video of striping leaders on young apple. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddP7cbCiLR4 Best, Win On Jan 28, 2014, at 9:20 AM, Ellen <mcdo...@gwi.net> wrote: Does anyone have experience pruning by ripping branches, as opposed to clipping or lopping? Just read about the Wafler's using this method (American FruitGrower, Feb. 2014.). We've always done a bit of it, especially upright shoots when checking the orchard for other things (i.e. without pruning tools at hand.) Just wondered if there have been any long-term deleterious effects ? It's obvious that upper body strength plays into the equation, but is there a limit on the size of branch that is removed by ripping? -- Ellen McAdam McDougal Orchards LLc 201 Hanson Ridge Road Springvale, ME 04083 207-324-5054 www.mcdougalorchards.com <http://www.mcdougalorchards.com/>
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