Standard stem - how to breed, prune, and care for it

Breeding, maintaining and designing high stems

the essentials in brief

In principle, all trees and shrubs can be raised to a high trunk, but fast-growing species tend to forgive cutting errors
A standard trunk has to be cut every year
Tall trunks less stable and therefore more susceptible to strong winds; therefore young trees should be supported

Which plants are suitable?

In principle, all shrubs are suitable for cultivation as a standard trunk. Some are more prone to side shoots than other trees. Fast-growing trees forgive you mistakes in cutting, because they regenerate quickly and make wrong cuts disappear. If you want to plant the high trunk in the garden, you should prefer hardy trees.

Potted plants

Tall trunks in the tub are a classic because they set accents on the terrace and balcony. Mostly Mediterranean and summer-flowering shrubs are raised as high stems. Convertible florets, olive trees and citrus trees are popular. Small magnolias and almond trees also thrive in the tub. These trees are not grafted, but pruned accordingly when they are young. It is important to have a stable container and to comply with the annual maintenance measures. Container plants overwinter in a sheltered place.

Standard trunks can be planted in the garden or grown in pots. In both cases, regular cuts are necessary.

Design options

The special plants are a real eye-catcher in the garden and on the terrace. They allow enchanted design options on two levels. While the treetops dominate the viewing height, the trunks lose themselves in the colors of the underplanting. High trunks not only enrich the ornamental garden, but also offer real enrichment in the kitchen garden.

	theme	Underplanting
Roses	English garden	Lavender, bed roses, flowering perennials
Berry bushes	Naschgarten	low vegetables
Pastures	Mediterranean bed	Shrub veronica, musk mallow
Fruit trees	Cottage garden	Spanish daisy, cranesbill
Clove cherry	Japanese garden	blue early bloomers

Pull the trunk yourself

With a little patience and the right care, a young shrub can be shaped into a standard trunk. If you pay attention to an adequate supply of nutrients and water, you can grow numerous trees and shrubs like eucalyptus or spindle bushes as standard trees.

Preparations

The young plant should have a straight central shoot that grows healthy and vigorous. This is tied to a support rod with a hose band or a tree tie. Remove any stronger side branches so that the shoot tip grows better and the trunk becomes thicker. Tie the growing tip of the shoot to the support rod regularly.

Instructions for cutting

Once the trunk has reached the desired height, cut off the tip of the shoot with three to four leaves. This promotes the formation of branches in the crown area. The trunk height is determined by this cutting measure. You can now shape the crown by shortening the side shoots to three to four leaves. Over time, a dense crown with a round shape develops. When the trunk is thick enough to support the weight of the crown, you can remove the support rod.

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Fertilize

Ensure an adequate supply of nutrients by fertilizing the tree slice with compost. Apply the material so that the root neck remains free and can dry. Damming up moisture can lead to the development of rot and mold. If the nutritional requirements of young trees are not optimally met, the woody plants grow old easily.

Care of standard trees

A high trunk requires special attention so that it can contribute to biodiversity and does not become bushy. Make sure that the trunk and root area are optimally protected. A high trunk should be pruned annually, otherwise the fruit yield and growth habit will suffer.

Root protection

Mice in the ground pose a great danger to high tribes. These dig passages in the substrate and ensure that the roots do not have optimal contact with the ground. This not only affects the stability but also the supply of nutrients and water. Encourage natural enemies in your yard that will naturally contain the mice. Keep the tree slice free of grass by mowing the area several times a year or covering it with gravel.

Tips

If mice are active in the root area, birds of prey don't stay away for long. Provide the heavy birds with a seat guard to protect young trees from broken branches.

Cutting for maintenance

Annual maintenance pruning is necessary to ensure a balance between crown and trunk. A loose but stable crown is ideal, which allows a sufficiently high incidence of light into the interior of the crown. The ideal time is in early spring before budding.

Remove dead and diseased branches. Cut off any fruit branches at the base that are more than three years old. These often hang down and disturb the overall picture. Young shoots that are too close together and those that have formed on the thicker branches are also completely cut out. All other young shoots remain so that they can develop into fruit wood.

Special features when cutting individual species:

Gooseberry : crop yield decreases if there is no cut
Currant : Stem shoots are often not varietal
Blood plum : pruning measures lead to water drift

Trunk protection

In order for the trunk to grow straight, it should be fixed to a pole. Make sure that the binding does not rub into the wood. If the tension is too high, you should loosen the tie rope. Protect the trunk from external influences such as frost. Special trunk protection mats made of plastic prevent damage from machines and wild animals.

Tips

Bamboo and reed mats or jute wraps can also be attached to protect the trunk.

What is a high trunk?

High trunks are fruit trees with a crown that is 180 to 220 cm high. This specification has been a national standard since 1995. This habit is achieved through annual pruning measures. In the first few years after sowing, all side branches must be removed. In the third year, the branches that are supposed to form the crown remain. All shoots below are cut.

Digression

A look into the past

From 1950 to 1995 the norm of the crown height was between 160 and 180 cm. Due to the changed use and the increasingly larger tractors that were responsible for cutting orchards, the values had to be increased. Trees with even higher crowns, such as those often found in avenues, are called solitary trees.

advantages

When a dwarf form is affected by fire blight, the entire plant often has to be cleared. Tall trunks can be a way out, because they can tolerate a strong pruning in the affected area. Additional use of green space is possible on orchards with old cultivars. The advantages of the standard trunk can also be used in the garden. The crown provides shade and the free trunk area can be used to hang hammocks. In addition, high trunks offer valuable habitats for rare and sometimes endangered species.

Plant spacing for tall trunks:

Apple : six to eight meters
Pear : five to seven meters
Sweet cherry : six to nine meters
Plum : four to six meters
Quince : four to five meters

frequently asked Questions

Can I transplant a standard trunk?

Young trees can be replanted well because they have not yet developed a widely branched root system. The older the trees, the more difficult this measure is. The roots reach deep into the ground and usually cannot be dug up without damage. If transplanting cannot be avoided, expose as large a root ball as possible.

How should a standard trunk hibernate?

Tall trunks are more sensitive to wind and weather than trees with a natural growth habit. With grafted varieties, the grafting point under the crown can quickly be damaged. Winter protection is therefore also necessary for hardy plants. Make sure that the trunk does not get the morning sun. Strong temperature fluctuations can lead to frost cracks. A reed mat provides shade for the trunk. Alternatively, you can apply a protective white paint that reflects sunlight.

How can I underplant the high trunk?

If the wood grows in a sunny location, you have a free choice. Most of the balcony flowers thrive below the sapling. Petunias, snowflake, golden marie and lobelia like light shade, while fuchsias, ivy and begonias grow in shady conditions. Pay attention to a harmonious combination of colors. Contrasts or coordinated arrangements look particularly beautiful. In the bucket you can combine bushy with overhanging species, so that three levels are created.

Do high trunks need special care?

The trees are less stable than their natural relatives. You should therefore protect the plants from the wind and, if necessary, support them with a stake. Many shrubs have a tendency to sprout on the trunk. Such shoots must be removed early. Regular crown cuts are just as important as an adequate supply of nutrients.

How tall are low, half and high trunks?

In the case of lower trunks, the crown begins at a height between 80 and 100 centimeters. Half-trunks have a crown base at a height between 100 and 160 centimeters. A nationwide standard has been in force for high trunks since 1995. This stipulates that the crown must be between 180 and 220 centimeters.