Pruning Time

Yesterday was the first trip out to the farm (for me) since November.  Jeff went out in December and put windows in the shed.  What a difference that makes.  And they open on hinges, too!  Next is doors.

In two weeks we get our brand new, Massey Ferguson tractor.  Our old International was on its last legs all summer and finally died the day we tried to put it in the shed for the winter!  So it is still sitting under a tarp in the pasture.  Poor baby will be sold off for parts, I'm thinkin'.

Yesterday's trip was made so we could get the apple trees pruned and fertilized before they blossom.  I think we've got about 110 trees right now.  It took about three and a half hours, but I got them all pruned while Jeff dug around each tree and applied fertilizer.  Here's a before and after shot of one tree.  I didn't pick a very good photo subject, but you can get the idea.  You basically take out any vertical growth.  Then train new growth by choosing where to make cuts to force new branches to grow horizontally.  This particular tree will take a couple years to get growing in the right shape.  I'm still no expert, but I'm getting a LOT of practice!
Most of the trees look like bare skeletons now.  JUST the way an apple tree should look in the spring!