Young trees loaded with fruit may be a source of pride to home orchardists, but unless the excess fruit is removed they will be small and trees may be damaged.

The first few years after planting, devote your efforts to developing the framework. A few fruit on the side limbs will not interfere with structural development.

Young branches bend easily under a fruit load. If a branch-bending load of fruit is allowed to remain on the tree until harvest, the branch usually will not return to its original position after harvest.

Light to moderate bending helps spread the branches from an upright growing position to a position of about a 30- to 45-degree angle with the trunk.

The main trunk of a young fruit tree is especially vulnerable to bending from fruit load. This bending changes the leader into a fruiting branch and the central leader is lost. Dwarf apple trees especially are likely to lose their central leader from fruiting.

Remove all of the fruit from the one- and two-year portions of the central leader. Do the same for the branches if excessive bending starts.

After a strong framework has been developed, heavier bearing can be tolerated. But excessive bearing can alter the structure of well-trained trees.

Summer pinching

If you want to increase next year's crop of raspberries and blackberries, early to mid-June is the time to do something about it.

Summer pinching, or tipping, of black and purple raspberries promotes the development of strong, fruitful lateral shoots. It also produces stronger, stockier plants better able to support their crops and resist wind damage.

Pinch so shoots are about two-feet high on black raspberries and about 2-1/2 feet high on purple raspberries. Pinch erect-growing blackberries at about three feet since they are more vigorous and have stockier plants than raspberries. Do not summer pinch red raspberries and dewberries.

Pinching consists of removing the tops of new canes to the desired height. It's best done with the fingers, but shears may be used. Pinch brambles when they are dry, and avoid pinching on wet, or on very cloudy days when rain is expected within 24 hours.

After the plants have fruited for this year, prune out the old fruited canes and remove from the planting and discard.

Erect blackberries send up root suckers in addition to the new canes that arise from the crown. Remove all root suckers appearing between the rows. For best results, pull the root suckers out of the ground.

"Growing Green" is contributed by Lehigh County Extension Office Staff and Master Gardeners. Lehigh County Extension Office, 610-391-9840; Northampton County Extension Office, 610-746-1970.