Quick verdict
Twenty-one 7 inch metal spreaders with rubber-sleeved hooks that wedge between trunk and branch to push young limbs out to a wide angle, which opens the canopy to light and air and shifts the tree from leaf growth to fruit. They install in seconds, stay on for six to eight weeks and come off to be reused. Seven inches suits young trees; older limbs need longer spreaders.
Strengths
- Trains branches to wide angles that favour fruit over leaf growth
- Opens the canopy for light penetration and airflow
- Rubber-sleeved hooks grip bark without gouging
- Twenty-one spreaders, enough for several young trees
- Reusable for years
Weaknesses
- Seven inches is short for branches more than a couple of feet from the trunk
- Only effective on young, flexible wood
- Must be checked so a growing branch does not grow around the hook
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Why Young Fruit Trees Need Spreading
A young apple or pear sends branches almost straight up. Those steep branches make leaves instead of fruit, form weak crotches that split under crop load and shade the centre of the tree. Pushing them out to 45 to 60 degrees while the wood is flexible changes all of that, and a limb spreader is the simplest way to do it. Fabflame’s set is 21 metal spreaders, 7 inches long, with rubber tubing over both hooks to protect the bark.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how limb spreaders are used in fruit tree training generally. We have not used these spreaders ourselves and the brand is a generic importer.
How They Work
Hook the upper end against the trunk, push the branch outward and hook the lower end under the limb. The spreader holds the branch at the new angle. Over six to eight weeks the wood sets, the spreader comes off and the branch stays. The rubber sleeves grip without cutting into the bark, which is what separates a proper spreader from a stick wedged in the crotch.
Results
Growers who train young trees this way report earlier and heavier fruiting, stronger branch attachments and a canopy that light and air reach, which means better ripening and fewer fungal problems. It is standard practice in commercial orchards and costs almost nothing to copy at home.
Size
Seven inches suits branches within a couple of feet of the trunk on young trees, which is where training happens. Larger limbs further out need longer spreaders or notched wooden struts. The 21-count equips several young trees in one season.
Timing and Checks
Install in spring or early summer on one to three year old wood. Check every few weeks that the branch has not thickened into the hook and remove once the angle holds. Spreaders are reusable season after season.
Who Should Buy It
- Anyone with newly planted fruit trees to train in their first years.
- Home orchardists correcting steep branches before they set.
- Ornamental tree owners shaping open canopies.
Common Owner Complaints
Length on larger trees and spreaders left on too long. Both are matters of choosing and checking.
Technique Tips
Spread a little at a time on stiffer branches; forcing a limb to its final angle in one step can crack the crotch. Work on a warm day when wood is pliable, and place the lower hook at least a third of the way out along the branch so the lever holds without slipping.
Alternatives to Consider
Longer 10 to 14 inch spreaders suit established trees. Clothespins work on first-year shoots. Tying branches down to stakes or weights is the alternative for limbs too far out for spreaders.
Verdict
For a few dollars, these spreaders apply the single most effective training technique in fruit growing to young trees without harming bark. Use them in the first seasons after planting and the tree will repay you in fruit for decades.
Full specifications
Fabflame 21-Piece 7 Inch Metal Fruit Tree Limb Spreaders with Rubber Hooks FAQs
Branches growing steeply upward make leaves and weak crotches. Pushed to 45 to 60 degrees from the trunk they form strong attachments, let light into the canopy and produce fruiting spurs.
In spring and early summer on one to three year old branches while the wood is flexible. Leave them six to eight weeks until the branch holds the angle, then remove.
The rubber tubing over each hook spreads the load and prevents scarring. Check every few weeks that the branch has not grown into the hook.
For branches further out or thicker trees, longer spreaders or notched wooden struts are needed.
