Grafting an apple tree has many advantages. Among other things, exactly the variety that you want grows. In this way, an old variety can be preserved even though the tree in question has to be felled.

In a nutshell

  • each variety is suitable for grafting
  • Base determines the growth characteristics
  • Sciones the fruit variety
  • there are various finishing options
  • A large contact surface is important for rapid growth

Instructions grafting young apple tree

Choose the right base

Depending on what kind of tree you want, you have to choose the right rootstock. There are rootstocks for bush trees, half-stems and tall-stems.
Examples:

  • M9 and M26: spindle trees up to 50 cm trunk height
  • M4 and M7: Bush trees up to 80 cm trunk height
  • M25: Medium trunk up to 1.40 m trunk height
  • Seedling base: high trunks up to 1.80 cm trunk height
The choice of rootstock has a direct impact on the size of the tree.

Select noble rice

The scion determines the apple variety and thus what properties the apple will have. Favorite varieties from your own or another garden are suitable for this. It doesn't matter if it's a summer, autumn or winter apple. It is only important that the scion comes from a healthy tree.

Prepare base

The substrate must be prepared accordingly for the finishing. This includes shortening and cleaning out the roots. Thoroughly cut out all damaged and dead roots. Shorten the trunk as well. It should be the thickness of the scion.

Notice: The trunk should not be longer than 15 to 20 cm so that the grafting point is just as high above the ground after planting.

Prepare scion

The scion is only cut from the tree when it is needed. Alternatively, there are scions in tree nurseries, just like the rootstocks. If scions fall when pruning apple trees in winter, they can be stored in a cool, dark place in moist sand until spring. Cut the scion just before use. They must have 4 to 5 eyes and be the thickness of the pad. They mustn't be too short, a little reserve doesn't hurt if the finishing cut doesn't succeed immediately.

Notice: For scions cut in summer, remove the leaves down to the petiole.

Refine material to apple tree

  • Grafting knife (very sharp, clean, preferably disinfected)
  • Grafting tape (made of plastic, self-adhesive, degrades over time)
  • Raffia or rubber bands (alternative to finishing tape)
  • Refining wax (protects scion from drying out)
  • Tree wax (protects graft site when using raffia or rubber bands)

Various finishing cuts

Copulate

  • at the lower end of the scion
  • at the top of the pad
  • there must be a bud on the back (pull eye)
  • Cut obliquely parallel to the branch
  • Cutting length 4-5 cm
  • perform in one go

Copulate with counter tongues

  • after the first cut, make a second, smaller one
  • cut this perpendicularly into the cut surface of scion and base
  • Push the scion and base together

Notice: Do not touch the cut surfaces in front of the apple tree with your fingers, this leads to contamination.

perform refinement

Once the finishing cut has been made correctly, place both ends on top of each other so that they touch as much as possible. Especially the growth layers directly under the bark should be on top of each other, because that facilitates the growth. Fix scion and base together. To do this, wrap finishing tape or raffia around the connection point or pull several tight rubber bands over it. So that the scion does not dry out, it is dipped in processing wax. Tree wax can also be used to spread the grafting point.

Plant a tree and monitor growth

  • Do not choose a location that is too sunny, possibly transplant again later
  • prepare an appropriately large planting hole
  • Fill in nutrient-rich soil or compost
  • Place the tree in the planting hole
  • Fill in the soil and press down
  • water
  • If the tree sprout above the connection point, grafting has been successful
  • If the scion dries up, it has not worked to graft the apple tree

Subsequent care

If the material around the grafting point does not come loose by itself, it is cut open after a year at the latest so that the tree is not constricted. If the rootstock sprout, these shoots are removed.

Instructions grafting old apple tree

Choose a suitable tree

Old, healthy apple trees are good for grafting multiple varieties on them. This not only has the advantage that several varieties can be harvested. There is also no need to plant a second apple tree for pollination. It is an advantage if the tree has a loose, well-tended crown.

An advantage of grafting is that you can harvest multiple varieties on one tree.

Select noble rice

You can choose any apple variety you like. If a pollinator variety is to be refined, the relevant literature will help to find the varieties that are compatible with each other. Alternatively, a consultation in the tree nursery is suitable. The scions must be healthy and have several shoots. One or more scions are needed per branch of the old apple tree. This depends on the thickness of the branch:

  • 2 cm 1 scion
  • 5 cm 2 travellers
  • 10 cm 3 to 4 scions

Young shoots that are about as strong as a pencil and have well-ripened buds are suitable. Only scions that you cut in winter are suitable for longer storage.

discard crown

In order to graft the apple tree, you need to remove most of the crown:

  • right time is the winter before grafting
  • Thin out too dense tree crown
  • Shorten the leading branches by two thirds
  • Shorten the trunk extension so that a roof-shaped angle is created
  • leave weaker branches as guests
  • they absorb nutrients that would otherwise accumulate in the plug head
  • graft all shortened branches

Prepare scions

Soak the scion for a while before using it. Then cut into pieces 4 to 5 cm long. Only use pieces with well matured buds. Cut a long wedge at the lower end of the shoot, exposing as much of the growth layer as possible. There must be a bud opposite the wedge.

Prepare support branches

Immediately before grafting, shorten the branches again with the saw by about 20 cm. Smooth the bark around the cut. Attach the scion to the top of the branch. This prevents the drive from being ripped off by external influences. Attach two scions opposite each other, several evenly spaced scions along the plug head.

Various finishing techniques

  • Bark plug: cut a slit in the branch, lift the bark slightly, push in the prepared rice
  • Goat's foot plug: cut a wedge into the branch, insert scion
  • Plug in the side gap: cut a gap in the branch down to the wood, push scion into it

protect refinement

Depending on the method, attach the scion to the base. Then wrap the connection point tightly with raffia and spread with tree wax. Also seal the top of the plug head and scion with wax.

control growth

After a few weeks, the first shoots should be visible on the scion. However, this can also be caused by nutrients still in the shoot. Therefore check the tree again after a few days. If the leaves grow and new shoots form, the scion has grown. If the shoot dries up, grafting is not successful.

Subsequent care

Since the bast does not usually dissolve in the sun, it is cut open after a few weeks. Also remove all shoots up to 30 cm below the grafting point. In winter, after grafting, start removing the guests. Only leave the strongest young shoot per grafting head, tie or divert the others horizontally.

frequently asked Questions

Is it possible to graft other fruit trees according to these instructions?

Yes, it doesn't matter whether it's an apple or a pear, for example. The finishing is always done in the same way.

How can several varieties be grafted onto one tree?

With an old tree that has enough main branches, it is possible to graft a different variety on each branch. However, these should have similar properties.

Can the finishing cut be practiced?

Since cutting the scion and base is a bit complicated, practicing is a good idea. Willow rods are particularly suitable for this, but also cuttings from fruit trees. If possible, the cut should be in one go.

Category:

Garden plants