Training fruit trees to a modified central leader

This technique is a compromise between the central-leader and open-center methods. It is suitable for trees that will grow too tall if you allow the leader to keep growing.

1. Train as for a central leader, but stop upright growth, usually after two or three tiers of scaffold branches. Cut the leader back to a scaffold.

2. As an alternative, bend the leader over so that it becomes a scaffold. Tie it down until it remains in place on its own. Head it back to force branching.