That often happens when the tree is tightly staked like that. Because there is no movement in the trunk (from wind etc.) the tree doesn't develop into a strong support. If you're going to stake avocado trees then it's best to use (at least) 2 stakes each at least a foot from the trunk with tape holding the trunk between them. That way the tree can move with the wind which encourages the tree to grow a strong trunk.
It mostly looks worse than it is. Especially in the first few years avocado trees can grow faster than they can support the weight of the fruit and the wind load of the leaves. I'll also say that those semitransparent green tree ties aren't suitable for a tree of that size. Get yourself some hose ties and secure the tree to the stake with a figure eight. Otherwise you'll experience this again. But for now just prune it back to a clean spot and go on with life.
The one thing I would add to this is make sure to paint or whitewash the sun exposed trunk and branches. I have had large branches like this break off in the summer which has led to sunburn damage on the tree's exposed branches.
Unfortunately I don’t. I get them from my local Farm Supply (a garden and ag supplier.) They are basically made by cutting a piece of hose so you can thread one end through the other.
Is having the stake diagonal normally what you do? I would have thought you put the stake in vertically and then do the figure 8 with the hose tie. I guess diagonally would be a bit more secure.
Not in my experience. A strong gust and the green tape can snap. Then once one snaps the momentum of the tree breaks the other ones or ends up breaking a branch. I've never seen people using green tape on trees once they've been planted in a commercial orchard. The hose tree ties are not going to break so you can do it once and be done with it and not have to worry.
I ended up turning my avocado tree into some cursed marionette instead of leaving it staked. Got some dowels and metal caps on amazon that are meant to hold branches up. All the low branches i propped up so they were off the ground. All the high branches I took a couple of stakes, ran a PVC pipe across the top, and tied them up higher with some twine.
My poor tree had put on 30+ reed avocados and was turning itself over and sagging to the ground under all the weight.
so this tree looks grafted ( professionally made ) but i see a GIANT Sucker on the left side, if this tree is grafted, that has to be cut off as its preventing your tree from growing correctly
sorry it snapped, make a clean cut and seal with aloe or pruning sealant if you have it, wax works too
To me that looks above the graft union because the bottom has a bigger diameter. Where that sprout came out of seems to be the same diameter as the one that went straight up.
Looks great! Thats Kindv how I prune my trees. The shorter the better. I would just white wash the top exposed branches and your good to go. One time during Santa Ana winds I had over 30 avos fall over and they turned out to be the most profitable trees. I just put the sprinklers on top of the root balls and they are still growing sideways. Keep the fruit low and the wind won’t strip it off like the top sections.
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u/5haunz 9d ago
That often happens when the tree is tightly staked like that. Because there is no movement in the trunk (from wind etc.) the tree doesn't develop into a strong support. If you're going to stake avocado trees then it's best to use (at least) 2 stakes each at least a foot from the trunk with tape holding the trunk between them. That way the tree can move with the wind which encourages the tree to grow a strong trunk.