Q. My newly planted pluot tree produced one fruit this
past season. I guess I pulled too hard and the branch where it was attached
split. I taped the split back together with electrical tape. When can I remove
it?
past season. I guess I pulled too hard and the branch where it was attached
split. I taped the split back together with electrical tape. When can I remove
it?
A. Limbs that have split will never grow back together
unless you reattach the broken limbs within a few minutes after the split
occurs. Once the crack or split dries, they will never “fuse” back together.
unless you reattach the broken limbs within a few minutes after the split
occurs. Once the crack or split dries, they will never “fuse” back together.
Plants
grow around wounds and surround new growth by burying this damage in older
wood. If the split occurs in a strategic location that supports the weight of
future limbs and fruit, it will probably never be strong enough to support increasing
weight in future years.
grow around wounds and surround new growth by burying this damage in older
wood. If the split occurs in a strategic location that supports the weight of
future limbs and fruit, it will probably never be strong enough to support increasing
weight in future years.
 |
| Broken peach tree limbs due to the weight of a fruit load |
I don’t
know how rapidly you got the tape around the wound but if this happens again
you must reattach the split tightly in a matter of a few minutes. I like to use
the expandable green nursery tape that you can purchase from most nurseries are
garden centers.
know how rapidly you got the tape around the wound but if this happens again
you must reattach the split tightly in a matter of a few minutes. I like to use
the expandable green nursery tape that you can purchase from most nurseries are
garden centers.
I am
guessing the split did not grow back together, is still there and the limb no
longer structurally strong enough to support fruit or the weight of new
branches growing from it. Remove the broken branch with the pruning shears and
reshape the tree for future growth.
guessing the split did not grow back together, is still there and the limb no
longer structurally strong enough to support fruit or the weight of new
branches growing from it. Remove the broken branch with the pruning shears and
reshape the tree for future growth.