Apple tree graft follow up summer 2011

Grafting follow up. What do you do to manage the apple trees aftter successful gradfting? This is a tutorial for the benefit of grafting newbies and improvers, following on from the earlier videos I put up about why you might wish to top graft a fruit tree and the practicalities of how to actually do the graft.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• apple
• graft
• tree
• scion
• stock
• wood
• orchard
• tape
• knife
• opinel
• pruning
• grafting
• fruitwise
• stephen
• hayes

[WickManDoo]

I was hoping for your opinion on my progress in starting my own orchard. I began this year with 200 M111 Apple and 100 OHxF 97 rootstocks, which I saddle grafted and chip budded (10% saddled graft versus 90% chip bud). I have some pictures available if you want me to e-mail them, but basically, I have had difficulty with the graft takes. My questions is why I would have such great success with reverse saddle grafts and none with chip budding? Thanks! I have pictures if you want me to email.

[stephenhayesuk]

@WickManDoo Hard to say. I have had poor success with chip buds last season but excellent with saddle grafts. I'm not sure why. Sorry not to be more help, but all I can say is that I do all my tree production by grafting as I find it better than budding. Budding is quicker if you are working on an industrial scale, but I recommend the saddle graft for choice. Others may have a better idea, remember I'm not a professional just an enthusiastic amateur. The video tells it like it is.

[trentontrading]

Great video! Thanks Steven. If I may ask, not that I'm having this problem yet but if my espalier fence of apples were to develop a broken or diseased main lateral branch would it be possible to " stab graphed" a new branch in the general area of the removed lateral ? This thought came to me while listening to your great video.

[stephenhayesuk]

@trentontrading PS the general principles of graftng do not vary, only the details of the technique. It all depends on quality scion and stock, good timing (carefully stored dormant scion wood on to growing stock in spring), good clean cuts, good live wood to live wood contact, and good tying in. Practice.

Whether I use the cleft, saddle or rind graft depends on the relative diameters of stock and scion, as I have shown in a few earlier videos. One of those three will usually do the job.

[crataeguscrusgalli]

The Internet, and Youtube, at its best! Your efforts are greatly appreciated, Dr. Hayes.

[stephenhayesuk]

@crataeguscrusgalli Kind of tyou to say so. I love how YouTube allows people to pass things on. Of course there is rubbish, but that's free speech for you!

Incidentally, my main work is as a doctor and skin cancer diagnosis educator. I am particularly excited about a technique for skin cancer diagnosis called dermoscopy. I recently discovered that some of the world's top experts had put some free videos on YouTube, and they're great! This was not possible previously, Long live the Tube!

[Deirdrejcooper]

another brillliant vid... great SLOW photography, that allows us to see exactly what the great commentary is about.... God Bless you both.

[MadBadVoodo]

★★★★★

[cooper68ns]

stephen about how long was it from grafting to removal of grafting wrap? cheers

[ceadeses]

Probably no one will watch this video as it is one of the most complete and informative vids I have seen on the subject. Great video as always!

[wombbat909]

I love your videos and this one answered all my questions about this spring's work -- my first attempt at grafting! Only one of my scions made it on the rind graft, but next year, I intend to try saddle grafts on the nurse branches to balance the tree. (I just have one volunteer crabapple that I decided to try to graft here at my urban "microfarm.") THANK YOU for this exceptionally educational series.

[stephenhayesuk]

@trentontrading Thanks. As you saw, this one didn't take, but a few I did have taken. I will see if I can put a video up, it can certainly be a helpful technique when needs must.