Thread: Fruit, Nut, and Vine Grafting, Tree Propagation, Tree Care

I ordered 4 Crab Apple trees last fall. Your have to order fruit trees 7-8 months out these days to get decent selection and stock quality. This spring I received a Virginia, Wickson, Chestnut, and Transcendent Crab Apple trees. When they are planted some pruning is required as the top buds are too numerous for the Rootstocks pruned roots. I always have old Rootstocks of various variety. These I practice knife skills on and if the grafts take its a bonus. I had 4 take, one of each. These will be planted in the Fall after the Heat is over.



After making the cuts using my knife and match up the Cambium of each side (Cambium is the light green line between the Bark and Wood) I first wrap the graft in Parafilm to protect it from water intrusion and prevent the graft from drying out. Afterwards I have found on small caliper grafts Electrical tape, specifically Scotch 88, is the best compression tool to go over the Parafilm with. Posting this now will act as a primer when grafting is in full swing, you will have a understanding of what I'm doing.



Once the graft takes you keep all sprouts below the graft cut off so all the energy goes into growing a better graft union and new variety wood. These old Rootstocks will need root pruning before planting so also what top wood will need equal pruning so you keep the Roots ahead of the Top Wood.



Even with the heat wave the grafts from April have mended very well. In the picture above the Graft Union is centered.