A neighbor has a wonderful orchard of standard fruit trees, mostly apples (approx. 20 trees). The old man is too sick to even give us advise. We would like to take over the orchard and split the profit from selling the fruit. The trees are greatly in need of pruning, but the owners would rather not let people who do not know what they are doing prune it (like us!) If they were our trees, I would just start right in, but not with someone elses. We would advertize and then learn from the pruner how to do it. Anyone have any idea how much it would cost per tree? Also costs for spraying? Thanks for the help.

-- Jane in Wisconsin (autumnwindfarm@yahoo.com), January 31, 2002

Answers

its not too hard,, go to the library,, get a book, it will tell you everything you ned to know

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 31, 2002.

check with your local extension agent. They'll probably give you piles of paperwork on pruning and gobs of advice on the specifics of the variety.

You also may look closely at the trees. well kept trees that are only a few years out of maintenace will have bud scars and other indicators of where they had last been pruned. Follow that pattern of sculpting and grooming and you should be okay. (assuming you can talk the owners into letting you do it)

Best wishes... Otter

-- otter (kitchen@fsu.edu), January 31, 2002.

Were I you, I would find someone locally adept at the procedure, and trade the expertise and ability for part of the crop. It is not a difficult concept, learnable through the written instructions. However, given your constraints, get the local "expert" and watch and ask how it is done. Next year, you can easily do it yourself. If the trees have been neglected, it may take more than one year to get them back in shape. But even a neglected tree will produce well with a little TLC for a relatively short time. The worst I have encountered were nicely rejuvenated in 2 or 3 years. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), January 31, 2002.

First off you want to be sure and not prune any more than 1/3 of the tree out. At 1/3 pruning the harvest will usually be very smaill (if any)the first year, but the next year will be bumper crop. Pruning should be done so that your fist fits between each branch. Also the branches should be cut at "joints" and no where else. You want to be sure and cut out all diseased or broken branches first. Then go on to the others. Limit your main branches to 3-4 at most. Also, prune out all the suckers growing between the branches. Like you would on tomatoe plants. Also, prune out any shoots coming out of the bottom from the roots. You only want the main trunk, 3-4 (at most) sub- branches, then lateral branches no more than you can put your fits through. No branches bending over, but keep a nice shape just for eye pleasure.

As far as pricing goes, since you have no experience, I would let the guy give you a price and see if it seems fair for the amount of pruning that needs to be done. I would say, so much a tree. Remember, if they have not been pruned in a while it is also a lot of work just hauling off all those branches you have to cut out! You need to decide, based on the pruning instructions given, if you will be just pruning or if you will rejuvenating the orchard-- taking out 1/3 or per tree or close to it. Charge more if actually rejuvenating...but be aware...if you need to rejuvenate, there is always a danger of loss of trees. Usually not, but always a danger and the fellow your doing it for has be aware of that fact and not hold you responsible.

As far as spraying goes, be sure you know what you are doing there too. Certain times of year means differant types of spray. First spray will be in the spring with dormant oil. I would charge some where in the neighborhood of $3-5 a tree for spraying.

Hope that helps. Best of luck!

-- Karen (mountains_mama@hotmail.com), January 31, 2002.

Check with your local ag agent and he/she can point you toward a master gardener group that has community service hours to put in. THey will be trained and will do it for free.

THat is how I did my community service hours for master gardeners. I pruned trees around the school. Main street, churches etc. And pruning fruit trees is different than trimming other trees where you only take a third. I watched an old man prune his apple trees to a point where I would have said he killed them. But no, they bushed up and he had a fine crop. I followed suit and you know what...it worked fo me too

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), January 31, 2002.

dont undersell yourself, arborists get a much as $25 per hour!!!!

-- Joany Hoffman (mjjch@uniontel.net), March 27, 2002.