I have a (bud grafted) apple that I planted this winter, since I figured it could hold its own having reached about 5' tall. I've got a proud-parent picture of its budded and bursting leader - 3 leaves uncurling open - on March 17. I was making the rounds yesterday, and saw that it never got anywhere. There are no leaves on this little tree, and I've got leaves and probably set fruit on the apple that went in the year previously as well as the half dozen from this year's scion exchange.
The tree just stopped. I thought "Oh dear, it doesn't look juicy any longer," and watered it, but it doesn't seem to have been dry enough for a while that it should have suffered. The "trunk" doesn't seem brittle yet, but if it doesn't put on some leaves, I know the tree is doomed.
Anyone have any idea, diagnoses, suggestions? Thanks,
mh
mh
Take a look at the trunk at and below ground level. See if there is any change in bark color or texture or if someing (meadow voles) have girdled the tree.javascript:emoticon(':roll:') If all is OK dig out and look at a few roots. Healthy roots should have a cream color, diseased and dead, dark color. Dead is dead, but nice to have an autopsy.
Ted
Well, I'm already considering replacing this poor child with a bud grafted one from one of the too many I got at the scion exchange. Of course, I want whatever I end up with on M111, because it's a landscape tree first and a pollinizer second.
Will I be able to take a bud from one of my infants come August and basically graft one scion twice in a year? Do I know it will have new buds by then?
Thanks again.
Little confusing, being spread over 2 different topics! From what I've read about bud grafting, you won't be able to graft the same buds again this August - bud grafting is done in the middle of the growing season while the bark is slipping (it's loose to the tree); but the buds being grafted onto it have to still be dormant. So if you still had some scionwood stashed in your fridge, you can graft them onto a tree in leaf; but not otherwise. And I think rootstock is only available late fall through early spring, like scionwood it must be dormant when it's harvested; so basically you have one chance to branch graft early spring; then mid summer you have the chance to bud graft - but you have to have the right supplies ready beforehand!
Hope this makes sense to you, I've been doing a lot of reading about propagating apples recently, trying to prepare to graft next spring. Wish I could give a home to your extra Grimes Golden, but the 2 trees I've planted in my mom's yard have used up the space - I live in an apt.!
Dave - lotus026
Sorry about jumping topics - when I didn't get a reply here, I thought I'd try to hitchhike on a related thread.
I suspect then that rootstock is going to be my problem, because the only M111 I have that is healthy is growing a tree that's bigger than I am. I obviously don't trust the one that is dead or dying, and everything I have in pots is on M9. If rootstock isn't available in August, I'm probably sunk until next winter. Apparently HOS should have buds readily available. If anyone has had second thoughts about starting a very big tree, I'd be happy to relieve you of the burden.
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
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