apple trees?

[jimdob]

I have a dwarf apple tree which is about 6 foot high. the problem is that it only has two branches is there any way of increasing the number of branches on the tree. the tree had the main stem cut when i got it and the main upright bit now is one of the two branches on the tree.

[jimdob]

[Robert_Brenchley]

Any idea what variety it is? There are a few which don't produce side branches. Mostly though, hard pruning should make it branch more.

[jennym]

If you prune the leader (the main stem) by cutting back to just above a bud or node, it will encourage the formation of lateral branches.
You don't say how long the main stem is, or the branch, but cut roughly a quarter off the main stem, and do it now.
I assume that the main stem is growing straight up, and the branch is growing out to one side? Cutting a little off the branch too, to just above a bud, will enourage smaller side shoots from the branch.

[jimdob]

thanks for he replies guys. the main trunk of the tree is approx 8 inches high and has been cut off there is a lower branch about haf way up the main trunk which is about 3 feet long.the longest branch is at the top of the trunk just before the cut and this branch has curled to grow upwards and is about 5 feet in lengt i do not know the type of tree i am afraid. i bought it as a dwarf apple tree.

[Robert_Brenchley]

In that case it's highly unlikely to be one of the special varieties. Cut it back hard and it'll produce branches.

[jennym]

The trunk is 8" high? is this a stepover form? or was it meant to be one I mean?

[jimdob]

tahnks again for the replies i am sorry i do not know what a step over form is. could you please explain

[jennym]

This link might help, if you click on it there are pictures of some tree forms.
http://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/hort.php

[beejay]

To encourage branches to shoot you can cut a little notch out just above a bud & this will encourage that bud to shoot. I have done it quite successfully & it is a little less dramatic than pruning branches quite hard.

[jennym]

I've tried notching beneath nodes/buds to to encourage fruiting spurs from along a branch, and notching above them to encourage branches from a main trunk, but this has mostly been on long lengths of naked stem. not sure if it would be effective on an 8" trunk.
These two practices have to be done separately (i.e. you shouldn't notch above and beneath the same bud, nor on the same stem) just before the sap starts to rise, and the method is to pierce the bark and the layer just beneath the bark, but not the wood itself.
On some trees, especially vigorous ones, I did find that the bark splits up from the notch after a few months, but didn't seem to have harmed the trees, as it calloused over during the following months.
I would treat the branch that is growing upwards as the leader, and prune about a quarter of that, and try the notching method on the branch you have growing horizontally to encourage fruiting spurs, i.e.  notching the branch below some nodes/buds.

[jimdob]

thanks for all th help i will try the methods above. can i use these methods on the branches aswell to get them to divide?

[jennym]

You don't really want the branch to divide; what you want is for more branches to grow from the main stem.
If you pruned the leader (the stem that is growing upright) by about a quarter, this will encourage branches to shoot from it.
If you notch the existing horizontal branch beneath nodes/buds, this will encourage fruiting spurs to develop.
Here is a very rough sketch:

[jimdob]

many thanks jenny that is exactly what my tree looks like aswell. I will trim at the weekend and let you guys know how it went