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Many gardeners compare the grafting of apple trees with a surgical operation. And not in vain. After all, when performing these works, it is important to comply with all the recommendations and deadlines of experienced gardeners. And most importantly, grafting apple trees can be said to be a creative process. It is very interesting to watch how a small cutting grafted onto a wild game seedling or an old tree grows, blooms and gives a bountiful harvest of fragrant, tasty apples.
If grafting is a common thing for experienced gardeners, then beginners have a lot of questions: how to plant an apple tree in the fall? When is the best time to work in the garden? What and how to vaccinate? In this article you will find answers to many questions.
Why instill
Mankind learned to plant apple trees more than five thousand years ago. Thanks to selection, a large number of new varieties have been created that annually delight gardeners with yields. What attracts the owners of summer cottages to graft apple trees?
- Grafting of apple trees is a limitless opportunity to conduct experiments in order to obtain new varieties or improve the varietal characteristics of an apple tree.
- The impoverishment of yields is another reason to renew an old tree and graft an apple tree in the fall.
- Thanks to grafting, existing varieties can be propagated and the range of trees growing in the garden can be expanded.
- Did your apple tree begin to dry, get sick and had to be cut down? Do not rush to uproot the stump – you can graft several branches on it and in a few years it will again delight you with fragrant fruits.
- Do you have a small yard that doesn’t have enough space to grow enough of your favorite fruit tree varieties? Do not despair! Thanks to grafting, up to 3-5 varieties can be grown on one apple tree.
- And one more plus. The apple tree is a very generous fruit tree. And sometimes it bears fruit so abundantly that gardeners do not know what to do with apples, distributing them to neighbors and friends. If on one apple tree you have several varieties with different ripening rates, then you will process the ripened crop in a timely manner and without loss.
Whatever the reason, the only thing left is to learn how to properly plant an apple tree in the fall. And this process is not so complicated.
When can apple trees be grafted
Experienced gardeners advocate spring grafting of apple trees. However, many of them note that it is possible to graft fruit trees not only in spring, but also in autumn, and even in winter, provided that the temperature drops below -10˚С -15˚С. Whenever you decide to do this exciting business, at any time it is important to meet the deadlines and be sure to pay great attention to weather conditions.
Grafting an apple tree in the fall does not require even beginner gardeners a lot of skills and abilities. Grafting work begins in the garden in the second half of August – early September. It is very important to have time to finish all the work at least a month before the expected frost.
In the northern regions, all work should be completed in mid-late September. In the central regions and the Moscow region, this period is shifted by two weeks. And in the southern regions, they do not start grafting apple trees in the fall before the first days of October. All work here is trying to be completed by early to mid-November.
Before starting work in the garden, pay attention to weather forecasts. If no frosts are expected for the next three to four weeks, then you can proceed to such a responsible event. If the prognosis is unfavorable, then it is better not to take risks and postpone the grafting of apple trees until spring.
Tools and materials for grafting apple trees
In order to qualitatively produce a series of measures for grafting apple trees, you will need the following tools:
- A very sharp garden knife or pruner. Please note that the cut on cuttings intended for grafting apple trees must be done in one motion. Thoroughly wipe the entire tool with alcohol before starting work to avoid infection. After all, any cut is actually an open wound.
- Insulating tape. If there is no insulating material, you can use a small strip of polyethylene and twine.
- Garden var.
In addition to tools, you will need: a rootstock, a scion and, of course, a desire. Wash your hands well and disinfect them immediately before vaccination. Remember that you can’t touch open cuts even with clean hands.
What can be used as a rootstock
Grafting apple trees in the fall is a very simple process that even a novice gardener can successfully handle.
Before proceeding with the vaccination, it is necessary to take care of the rootstock in advance. As a stock, young apple seedlings aged 2-3 years are excellent. Excellent results are obtained by grafting apple trees on a game. After all, young shoots of wild game are adapted to local climatic conditions, and also have high resistance.
Many gardeners independently grow apple seedlings for rootstock, planting seeds in advance in the ground. You can also use old apple trees for stock. The main thing is that the fruit crop is healthy. Sick rootstocks with signs of disease or damaged by ubiquitous insects cannot be used for grafting apple trees.
If there are no suitable seedlings or fruit trees in your garden, you can graft an apple tree on the following fruit crops:
- Common and chokeberry;
- Quince;
- Pear;
- Kalina;
- Hawthorn.
If you chose one of the above seedlings as a rootstock, be prepared for the following problems to arise: poor survival, gradual fruit grinding and reduced yields, short fruiting period. Many experts consider grafting apple trees to third-party seedlings rather as an experiment.
If you want to be guaranteed a plentiful harvest of tasty and fragrant apples, use only apple seedlings and trees as a stock.
How to choose a scion
A “graft” is a cutting that you would like to graft. How to choose and cut a scion?
Cuttings should be cut only from a healthy, abundant apple tree. Before cutting, it is important to know that scions are not subject to long-term storage, which means that they must be prepared in the amount that you can use during the day.
The length of the cuttings for grafting an apple tree should be 25-30 cm. It is very important that after grafting, each shoot has at least 4-5 healthy buds. The thickness of the cuttings, ideal for grafting, is 1-1,3 cm.
Vaccination methods
There are more than ten ways to graft apple trees. But given that many of them require special skills, as well as special conditions of detention, gardeners, by trial and error, have identified the most effective and easiest to perform:
- Budding (or budding);
- Copulation;
- Split grafting;
- For the bark.
Budding, or budding, can significantly save grafting material. This method is used for grafting apple trees in early spring, when the buds on the shoots have not yet begun to grow, or in early autumn, while sap flow is still ongoing in the trunks.
Copulation is the most common method. Gardeners use it if the stock and scion, that is, the seedling and the cutting, are the same in thickness. If the diameter of the scion and rootstock is very different, then it is best to graft the apple tree using the “split” or “bark” method. Moreover, the latter method is perfect when you need to reanimate sick, old trees, uprooting which the hand does not rise.
Grafting apple trees is best when the weather is cloudy, but not rainy. If the Indian summer turned out to be hot, then the vaccination should be done early in the morning or late in the evening.
Do not forget that grafting apple trees is identical to a surgical operation. All actions must be carried out with clean hands and as quickly as possible. The less open cut remains in the open air, the higher the likelihood of the scion taking root.
Grafting by budding
Budding is a universal method of grafting apple trees. Firstly, a novice gardener can also cope with it, it is so simple to perform. Secondly, thanks to him, you can not cut the cuttings, saving grafting material. And thirdly, apple trees can be grafted using this method in autumn or spring. It is desirable that the kidneys for grafting be in “sleep mode”.
Algorithm of actions during budding:
- A healthy bud is selected on a one-year-old scion. You need to cut off the kidney with the adjacent area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe bark and a thin layer of wood, the so-called shield. All actions must be performed carefully, trying not to break the delicate kidney.
- On the rootstock shoot, make a T-shaped incision and gently push the bark apart at the cut points.
- Carefully insert the “shield” under the bark, not forgetting the correct location of the kidney – it should look up. Straighten the corners of the bark on the rootstock.
- Carefully wrap the grafting site with electrical tape or plastic wrap, leaving the grafted kidney on the surface.
At least 2-3 weeks later, you need to carefully examine the vaccination site. If the engraftment process went well, you can slightly loosen the bandage.
Copulation
Grafting of an apple tree by the copulation method is carried out only when the stock and scion are the same in thickness. The diameter of the stem of the stock and the cutting of the scion should not exceed 2-2,5 cm. Most often, this method is used for grafting apple trees at the age of 1-2 years, not older.
Copulation is a universal method, because it allows gardeners to graft cuttings at any time of the year: in spring, summer, autumn and, in rare cases, in winter for grafting apple trees at home.
The meaning of copulation is to make almost identical cuts on the shoots of the stock and scion and combine them into one branch, as puzzles are connected. The more densely the cambial layers of the scion and rootstock are connected, the more likely it is that the process of engraftment of the apple cutting will be successful.
Copulation is of two types – simple and improved.
The principle of operation is the same in both cases. The only difference is that with improved copulation on the cuts of the scion and rootstock, not a simple cut is made, but a zigzag one, which allows the shoots to be connected as tightly as possible.
- On the rootstock, it is necessary to make an even, oblique cut 3-4 cm long. You need to cut off the shoot in one motion so that the surface is perfectly even and smooth.
- Make an identical cut on the scion.
- Connect the scion and rootstock, slightly pressing against each other. Wrap the joint tightly with electrical tape or plastic wrap.
- Those grafting sites that did not fall under the insulating layer should be immediately treated with garden pitch.
A large number of positive responses from gardeners received the so-called grafting pruner. Thanks to sharply honed and perfectly matched knives, the cuts on the scion and rootstock are identical and perfectly match each other, which greatly simplifies the process of grafting apple trees.
Inoculation in cleavage
This method of grafting apple trees is perfect if the scion and stock differ greatly in diameter. In this way, you can significantly increase and update the crown of apple trees. It is also used by gardeners when growing multi-varietal apple trees.
Boles at the age of 3-6 years or skeletal branches, the diameter of which is from 2 cm to 10 cm, are well suited for stock. Grafting of an apple tree into a split in autumn can be done as long as active sap flow continues in the trunks. This work can be completed until mid-September.
In order to graft an apple tree into a split, you should proceed as follows:
- Cut off the skeletal branch or trunk of the stock and clean it with a knife.
- Carefully split along the rootstock. Too deep a gap is not needed. To prevent the crevice from closing, insert a screwdriver or knife into it for a while.
- On a scion cutting with 3-5 well-developed buds on both sides, oblique cuts are made no more than 3,5-4 cm long. You should get a kind of wedge.
- Insert the scion into the split into the rootstock so that the cuts are completely hidden in the gap.
- Wrap the branch or stem tightly with electrical tape or film.
- Treat the remaining open sections with garden pitch.
This method of grafting apple trees is unique in that up to 5-6 scions can be inserted into one split, depending on the diameter of the rootstock. Thus, you will get several accustomed shoots at once.
Grafting for the bark
In this way, grafting apple trees can give a second life to old fruit trees. You can graft an apple tree in the fall either to a separate skeletal branch or to a small stump. It is important that its length from the ground is at least 50-70 cm from the ground. Due to the simplicity of this method, apple trees can be grafted by the bark both in early spring and in autumn. The main thing is that the bark is easily separated from the trunk. You need to act in accordance with the following recommendations:
- Cut off the skeletal branches at a distance of 50-70 cm from the trunk, leaving 2-3 for sap flow.
- Clean the saw cut with a garden knife to a perfectly even and smooth state.
- Make a vertical incision on the bark of the upper part of the rootstock. The length of the cut is 4-6 cm. Make sure that the knife cuts only the bark without injuring the wood.
- With the blunt side of the knife, gently pry and push the bark apart.
- On a scion with 4-5 well-developed buds, make an oblique cut at least 3 cm long.
- Insert the scion behind the bark with the cut towards the trunk. It is very important that a cut on the handle “peep out” by 1-2 mm above the saw cut of the stock.
- Fix the grafting site with electrical tape or plastic wrap and treat with garden pitch.
As you can see, there is nothing complicated in all methods of grafting apple trees. The main thing is not only to follow all the recommendations, but also to monitor and take care of the grafted shoots in a timely manner. And then the apple tree will thank you with a generous harvest for your care and attention.
The author of the video talks in detail about what tools are needed and how to prepare them for grafting an apple tree. He also reveals his secrets of inoculation very clearly and understandably.
How to care for grafted apple trees
It is necessary to care for grafted seedlings, regardless of the method of grafting an apple tree. Once every two weeks, you need to carefully inspect the vaccination sites.
When budding, pay great attention to the condition and appearance of the grafted kidney. For other apple tree grafting methods, carefully inspect the grafts. At the slightest suspicion that the graft or bud has not taken root, unwind the grafting site, remove the shield or stalk and cover the incision with garden pitch.
It is undesirable to remove the “bandage” from the vaccination sites with a successful outcome until spring. But with the onset of a thaw, it is necessary to gradually weaken it, since during this period the growth of branches begins.
To ensure good nutrition for grafted seedlings, all shoots growing below the grafting site must be promptly and ruthlessly removed with secateurs.
Before the onset of frost, one should not forget about the mandatory autumn watering and hilling of apple trees, thus preparing them for winter.
As soon as you see that the scion has taken root perfectly, and the first shoots have appeared from the buds, prune, leaving only the strongest ones.
It is necessary to tie up grafted seedlings of apple trees when the shoots reach a height of 25-30 cm. Repeated tying is required when they reach a height of 40-50 cm. apple trees grows together for a long time – at least 2-3 years.
Remember that after grafting, the apple tree needs a lot of time and effort for the fusion of damaged tissues to go smoothly. By feeding the apple tree with fertilizers in a timely manner, you help it regain strength and gain the necessary amount of nutrients before the onset of winter.
Before the onset of frost, do not forget about the insulation of apple tree seedlings and protect them from rodents.
Conclusion
Grafting apple trees in autumn allows you to not only diversify the assortment of your garden, but also save a lot of time and money. After all, it will take several years to grow a healthy, well-bearing tree. Apple tree seedlings are expensive. Therefore, the benefit in this case is obvious. In a couple of years, you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor by harvesting the first harvest of apples.