I went to the dollar store and bought some aluminum wire in the floral section as well as little paper cups and clothes pins. I then filled the cups with concrete and stuck a piece of the aluminum wire in the concrete. After they set up you tie the clothes pin to the concrete anchor with the aluminum wire, I liked to thread the wire threw the spring on the clothes pin. Now just hook them to your tree to get the branches to spread as you need. It seems to work best if you don't quite spread them as much as you think you should because they tend to creep down lower with time. Also some of them will blow off in a wind storm and you may need to re attach them from time to time.

Years ago I made my own limb spreaders by the wagon full when working at a commercial orchard. I would take 1" x 1" wood stakes and cut them to various lengths of 12"-30". I would put the stake in a vise on the workbench and pound a nail into each end. Using a bolt cutters, I would then cut off the nail head at an angle, leaving a sharp point of metal. These worked well. Yes , a few blew off in high winds, but 99% worked once placed in the trees. Usually just before harvest time, I would remove all the limb spreaders out of the trees.

I should make some for my home orchard but I never seem to remember over the winter and too busy this time of year to get it done. I have used tent stakes on a few young trees (pounded into the ground under select limbs) and tied the limbs to the stakes until they are horizontal using soft cotton string. It works!