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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? We’re in full swing with pruning apple trees. The weather seems to be holding well too. I consider good pruning weather to be slightly below freezing. These colder temperatures reduce the chances of bark tear while pruning. When it gets too warm, the barkContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? This May marks this grafted apple tree’s 10-year birthday. The ornamental apple in front of CFA’s office was “beheaded” back in 2014 and 2 pencil-sized scionwoods from a tastier apple tree were inserted where only 1 was left to grow the next year. TheContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? We were pruning apple trees today during April’s “snow-showers” and noticed how beat up some of the trees were from last summer/fall’s black bears. Scratchings, bent branches, and hair riddled the trees. Bears often sit in one spot where apples are and bend theContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Sometimes pruning apple trees just isn’t enough, especially on young & vigorous trees. Branches that tend to grow straight up or at a 45-degree angle tend to be more “vegetative” instead of “fruitful.” In other words, branches that grow near horizontal from the trunk,Continue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I’ve said it before. The Catskill Mountains have some awesome volunteer or wild apple trees growing around. Some of the best fruit I know comes from them. However, if they’re not pruned, they will “umbrella” or shade themselves out over time. In other words,Continue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Believe it or not, this is a busy season at CFA. January through March is APPLE TREE PRUNING season and we’re scheduled every day! We’ve learned a lot about how to dress for the weather and retain heat. I can’t stress enough heated hand-warmers,Continue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? After looking at hundreds of planted and wild apple trees over the last several months, I’ve noticed something consistently about bear damage. Damage to the branches–regardless of where the fruit is–seems to mostly be at the top. Maybe it’s because bears feel most comfortableContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Spring is fast approaching. Now is the time to gather cuttings or “scionwood” from your favorite tasting apple or pear tree if you’d like to use them for grafting in April or May. We have scionwood from both named varieties as well as olderContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I pass by these two old apple trees on the way to work most mornings. You can see from the photos that the branch-union on the right side  of both trees had failed and half to one-third the tree is now mortally wounded. IfContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? The Apple Tree Pruning season is well underway & so is winter. Ice, snow, & wind are coming & with that comes tree damage. Pruning trees not only helps reallocate sunlight onto the healthiest branches, but also can improve shape & overall sturdiness. ForContinue Reading