Dale Goldy explains how large branches are removed and upright
branches tied down to prevent competition with the central
leader. This Honeycrisp block was planted in 2008 using nursery
trees.   Dale Goldy, horticulturist with Stemilt Growers, Inc.,
in Washington State, has the same objective as Auvil Fruit
Company when establishing a new orchard: The trees should reach
the top of the trellis by the second leaf, so they’re ready to
crop in the third. But Goldy has a different strategy for
achieving that.  Whereas Auvil Fruit Company plants bench grafts
and trains the young trees in the orchard, Goldy prefers to
plant an instant orchard, using full-grown nursery trees. If the
planting is planned far enough ahead, he likes to use two-year-
old knip trees, which are even larger.  He has tried growing
trees in place, but said it’s effectively moving the nursery
into the orchard, which requires a significant amount of detail
work. Workers often didn’t adapt well to the crossover between
nursery and full-grown trees