The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Fruit => Topic started by: Womble on December 02, 2017, 07:12:10 pm
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Hi folks,
We planted some apple trees three or four years ago, but then had terrible problems with canker, which was really well established in a group of nearby older trees.
Last winter we chopped down the older trees, and also the worst affected young trees. However, just to see what would happen, I tried crudely grafting some cuttings onto the stumps that were left. To my surprise, several of them took, and also the tree sent out its own new shoots as well. (Since these new shoots are above the original rootstock graft, I guess they'll be from the original tree too.)
My question is, what should I do now?:
- Cut off the new shoots, and prune the grafted in branches as if they were a new tree?
- Let both the new shoots and the grafted branches grow, and end up with a sort of 'family' bush?
- Get rid of the grafted branches, and try to get a good shape out of the new shoots?
- Dig the whole thing up and stop being so stupid?
- Something else?
Thanks in advance folks!
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I vote (a): Cut off the new shoots and leave the best grafted branch as the leader. Treat it as a maiden whip next year.
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I'm a bit worried about the third pic, which looks as if there is some canker where the shoots come from the main trunk. If that is so, then with that tree you would be best to remove it carefully, roots and all and burn it.
However you decide to prune, be very careful to clean the knife in surgical spirit, using an old toothbrush to scrub with, between each cut. Sounds laborious, but it does help to prevent spread.
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My vote would be with Dan, keep best graft. But if there's a length of the old scion wood there, and you know it's susceptible to canker (and as fleecewife says, one looks like it might have a bit of canker already) perhaps you should look to cut this lot off lower and do new grafts this spring into the rootstock? Well done getting your grafts to take! -But I'm no expert at all, it's just a suggestion, but seems a shame to dig them up if they can be used.
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Which varieties do you want most?
If the rootstock is regrowing and you miss those trees, keep at least one of the new shoots and maybe one of the grafts so you have a family of 2.
I wouldn't try for a whole lot of each on one plant, but you might wait to prune until Jan/Feb to check they're all coming on well, or even leave over winter as is and do a summer prune once you've checked that the canker isn't still coming through one or both.