Hello Ellen, I have used ripping to eliminate suckers and watersprouts quite a bit. A pair of work gloves in June can be very productive. I have also used a ripping technique to break out shoots that are newly infected with fire blight. The ugly wound dries out very quickly and seems to stop progression of the disease. I have had numerous experiences where cutting out fire blight strikes in the growing season only made matters worse. It sounds tough, but we have broken off branches up to an inch in diameter and left the ugly tear alone. We would follow up in the winter and cut about 6-12" any existing cankers and had good results. But as for a regular practice ripping was only used to eliminate suckers or a ridiculously vigorous upright branch.
On Tue, 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 04083207-324-5054www.mcdougalorchards.com > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2014.0.4259 / Virus Database: 3681/7039 - Release Date: 01/28/14 > > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.net > http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > >
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