Author Topic: Grafted apple trees. (Read 2789 times)

suziequeue · « **on:** March 31, 2012, 09:28:11 am »

We grafted some apple trees onto root stock in January and they are beginning to bud.

The thing is - as well as the buds on the graft, there are leaves forming on the root stock.

Should I cut these off? - as I don't want energy going into the root stock which could be going into the grafted bit.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2012, 11:46:44 am »

I would think rub them out with your thumb so the whole bud is destroyed.

Dan · « **Reply #2 on:** April 01, 2012, 07:37:45 pm »

Yes, remove them. By rubbing if you can (as FW says) or with a clean cut. We've always had a few trees where the root stock sends out suckers, just check every now and then and snip them off.

Plantoid · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2012, 08:45:38 pm »

Bend the suckers to the ground lay , after nicking the underside of the sucker about 1/2 way through .
Lay the sucker on the ground and place a brick over the nicked area... they will produuce new rootstocks .

Sever this time next year and transplant to new site . Graft on to the new stock a year later once with what ever apples you want/ have to hand .

suziequeue · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2012, 09:53:48 pm »

That's a clever idea Plantoid.

Unfortunately I have already rubbed the buds off but it looks like a couple of the grafts haven't taken so I might just let the rootstock on these grow on and pleach them when they get big enough as you suggest.

Thanks