This is my step-over apple tree, although I think you'd need to be a giant to step over it. Perhaps I should explain. Have you ever done something that seemed to be a good idea at the time ? Then circumstances change, and that good idea turns into a disaster. I decided to grow a step-over apple tree after watching a TV programme many years ago. You can buy step-over apple trees, but they are very expensive. It is quite easy to produce your own. It is, really, mine didn't always look like this.
First of all, you need a one year old apple tree with two strong branches low down the stem. Plant the tree, and train the two branches along a horizontal wire. Remove the leader and any other branches. There you are, job done. You should now have a T-shaped apple tree. As the tree grows, you should continue to train the branches along the horizontal wire, and prune as if growing a cordon tree.
So what did I do wrong, you may ask. As I had started with such a young tree, it took a few years to produce its first fruit, but eventually it did. And this coincided with the arrival of our first puppy, a golden retriever named Benji. Although he was quite small, those apples looked just like a ball to him, and one by one he leapt up and pulled them off the tree.
The following year, Benji was older and wiser. No longer did he have to jump to reach the fruit, they were now at eye-level. So from then on, ever year he would watch the apples grow, and pick them when he thought they were ripe enough to eat. And the dogs that followed Benji continued his apple harvesting technique. So that is why I abandoned the step-over bit and allowed the tree to grow upwards. Although, as you can see, there will still be plenty of apples for Joey this year.
And finally, the blue tits are constantly in and out of the nestbox these days, feeding their young, and occasionally departing with little white sacs in their beaks. I won't go into too much detail, but suffice to say, what goes in must come out.
How cute, I hope the dogs leave you some apples this year.
ReplyDeleteThe baby blue tits should be growing up quite nicely with all that attention. We have a pair of tiny birds building a nest in the fern by the back door. Not the safest place so we'll see how this works. I would prefer they don't nest near the door as it is quite a mess.
When I walk near the nestbox, I can hear the chicks tweeting now.
DeleteFabulous story....I love the fact the dogs picked the apples. Who needs a step over apple tree anyway :)
ReplyDeleteI have blue tits nesting in our kitchen roof.......they are more than welcome.
Have a lovely week.
I think the dogs did me a favour, no pruning required now.
DeleteLovely story Crystal - I love the look of stepover apples but I am useless at pruning apple trees so mine would probably have ended up like yours as well. Nice idea though.
ReplyDeleteDespite relentless pruning and training, the tree was already getting a bit too tall to step over.
DeleteWell, I hope your "step-over" tree grows tall enough for your to get a few apples, too, and not just the dog! :) Funny the things our pets enjoy in our gardens!
ReplyDeleteI might get a few apples, but looks like Joey will get four times as many.
DeleteI always admire the trained fruit trees I see in other people's gardens. I grew up with an apple tree in the yard and it was made for climbing. Dogs do seem to have a huge say on what we plant. My dogs love tomatoes.
ReplyDeleteI grow my tomatoes in the greenhouse, so Joey can't get near them.
DeleteAn apple-eating dog...how strange! x
ReplyDeleteNot just apples; he loves blueberries, strawberries and gooseberries too.
Delete