Understanding the three laws of growth is crucial for the proper pruning of deciduous trees. Home gardeners familiar with the laws can predict how an ornamental and fruit tree will react to each type of pruning. In short, the laws of growth describe how the energy flow in the tree is distributed among the individual buds. The more a bud is provided with reserve substances, the stronger the shoots will be. It follows that the more confident the gardener is in the laws of growth, the more successful his pruning care will be.
What are the three laws of growth for deciduous trees?
The three laws of growth in deciduous trees are the law of top promotion, the law of top promotion and the law of apex promotion. They describe the distribution of energy flow and nutrient distribution in trees and influence the budding.
Law of top funding with explanations
Short version: Growth is strongest in the shoot tips. The higher a terminal bud is positioned on the branch, the stronger it sprouts.
The law of top promotion applies equally to the entire tree and to an individual shoot. The higher a branch is in the hierarchy, the more intensively its growth progresses. The strongest shoots are always recorded at the tip of the trunk extension, leading branch and side branch. Branches positioned further down in the crown and buds further down the branch sprout proportionally weaker. The illustration below illustrates the principle of the upright side shoot. With this strategy, a tree aims to win the battle for optimal light output against neighboring plants.
The tip bud is favored on the upward branch and sprouts the most. In the direction of the shoot base, the buds gradually become weaker.
Law of topside funding with practical tips
Short version: Buds grow weaker on slanting shoots. The shoots are stronger on the top than on the bottom of a shoot.
If a branch is at an angle, the sap pressure is distributed more evenly than on a steeply upward branch. In this case, the Top Funding Act is no longer valid. Now all buds on the top of a branch benefit from the broader nutrient distribution. These eyes are preferred over the eyes on the bottom because they are closer to the light.
The energy available is usually only enough to form short shoots. The law of growth is of crucial importance for the formation of valuable fruit wood. Orchardists tie shoots in a horizontal position to promote the formation of fruiting wood. The illustration below documents how the top surface conveyance affects the sloping shoot.
On the shoot that points diagonally upwards, the reserve substances are distributed over the entire branch. Buds on the top grow more strongly than on the bottom.
Law of vertex promotion with annotations
Short version: The strongest shoots grow from the buds at the apex of arched overhanging branches.
On bushes that are several years old, the shoots branch out more and more, whereupon they bend towards the ground. The same thing happens to the worn, perennial fruit branches of a fruit tree. In this phase, the law of vertex promotion comes into focus when you cut the trees. Since the shrub and tree are always trying to grow towards the light, the buds at the top sprout noticeably more vigorously. If you cut off the old wood exactly where the young shoot thrives, you have done everything right.
If a perennial shoot hangs arched over, the buds at the top hardly receive any nutrients. The buds at the apex are now growing the most.
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Tip
The law of top funding is closely linked to the principle of the juice balance. A young tree only forms a harmonious crown if the top buds of its leading shoots are at the same height. Together with the tip bud of the trunk extension, the scaffold shoots should form an angle of 90 to 120 degrees.
