At Planting

• Nonfeathered Trees: A one-year whip is planted vertically and headed at 18 inches, the height of the bottom wire. Usually, three shoots appear as a “crow’s foot.” The center one is selected to be the leader of the tree, and is tied to the bottom wire. At the same time, or a little later, two lateral shoots about 3 to 4 inches below the wire, one on each side of the tree, are selected to become a pair of scaffold limbs. When about a foot in length, these are inclined at a slope of approximately 60 degrees and secured to the bottom wire. When 2 to 3 feet in length, they are reset at a 45-degree slope. The leader is allowed to elongate and secured to the second wire when its wood has matured sufficiently for tying. Other lateral growth usually is removed. In the fall, the tree’s central axis, leader, and scaffolds are secured to the trellis wires for overwintering.