We ended up getting 50 AP root stock from our local propagation nursery who we had dealt with for years back in the day so we are going to graft a few specimens in August. I decided to make a short preparation video of "how to prepare the root stock". This is the process we did every year prior to grafting. I will also post a detailed "how to " grafting video in early August. Of course it is the approach we took and overall our success rate was always very reasonable with a low of 63% and a high of 79% over the 17 years we operated. Close friends of ours are starting a nursery in the interior of BC ( Slocan) and japanese maples will be part of their inventory. We will pass the reigns over to them as they will be hands on and learn the art of grafting this summer.
Hi Otto, I noticed you speak of 8-9 mm width, but later in the video, you use inches (4 to 6 inches : 10 à 15 cm), still a subject of Her Majesty, the metric system having been implemented I think in 1974, but an "American" at the same time, huh, huh... I long for episode 2 because I've never ever made a successful graft. I first tried late winter grafting, then 2 or 3 summer grafts, and if of course I should have tried more, it's always disappointing when you think yourself a "savvy maple grower" - showing off actually, and it fails... ^_^
haha, yes, as the video is viewed on both sides of the pond I try to reference both forms of measurement. And on the grafting front if you have fruit trees or other small Deciduous trees, hold off on trimming back some of the new growth until grating time as you can practice the precise cutting technique on those limbs before heading to surgery. I will explain all details when I do post the grafting video
Thanks for your advice Otto. I've got a couple of rootstock maples, and cultivars that I wanted to have a try with. I'll keep yopu updated. PS : went to an old friend of mine yesterday, she's in a pretty bad depression at the moment, but your music helped her to feel a bit better, honestly.
Ive tired summer grafting for the last 2 years with no success (came close last year but not close enough). ill be patiently waiting on your video in Aug.
We always had a shade house within the green house when we had our nursery running. That way the young grafts would be shaded from the intense heat. I decided to build a mini shade house for the few root stock that I will be grafting in about a month from now. Good thing we have a habit of not throwing things out as one never knows when odds and ends may come in handy. Also, anyone who may be interested in grafting, don't cut back all of your fruit tree shoots if you do have fruit trees. The shoots are excellent practice material prior to grafting. I will explain all in the next video once grafting time starts.
I can ! Until otto gives me some advice to, at least, succed in grafting maples - LOL I'm not sure the "rootstock" I have have the right diameter or else for an optimum graft, but I'll try again.
Here is a preparation and practice video I just finished up. Grafting starts in 2-3 weeks. The sine wood is pretty much ready to go on most cultivators now. I will watch the weather and look for a long range pattern with normal temps. and hopefully a little rain as well. So this is part one, practice your cuts now before the real McCoy takes place,
Thanks for the video! Looking forward to the next part. Planning on grafting next year so these help out a lot.
good morning everyone! With this heat wave and combo of dry weather ( now a record for BC for no rain ) I am going to be grafting this morning. The temps are only going to get warmer over the next few days so this is my best window to graft. The sine wood has been ready to go for a couple of weeks now. I am up at 4 am today and am watering all the specimens for a couple hours prior to cutting the sine wood. This will get moisture into the limbs and optimize the grafting process. I should be grating by 6 - 6:30 am. I never graft past 9 a.m. in the morning as things warm up too much. I will be posting a step by step video late today or tomorrow with full details and close ups of my technique. I am planning to do 8 - 10 different cultivators (5-6 of each) Just need a little java into the veins and a light bite to eat then away I go.
I think it's in a video Otto made, I'm pretty sure he said the rootstock should be well-watered so the bark peels off more easily.
Very nice video @Otto Bjornson. I really appreciate it. Scion wood, is that this year growth? Does that matter?
Yes, most important, only this years growth. You would notice right away as a previous years growth would be very difficult to cut into as it would be way to hard
I had a few questions asking about the scion wood, what to cut, etc. So here is the final video in the grafting series!
Thanks a lot for both video's Otto! Now I just gotta do it and see how it works out. You think I can put them inside my garden shed in front of the window? They will never get sun there, only indirect light. The challenge is keeping them moist if you're out to work from 6 am until 7 pm... Maybe I can build me a case with some plastic around it and mist them in the mornign and evening? An alternative would be to put them outside in the shade in some kind of transparant box, and mist them every hour or so with my timer on the hose
@Riverdale27 , I would opt for outside in the shade and mist with a timer. If you can pick up a bit of remay cloth? It is a very light white cloth that allows good airflow but can help to retain a bit of moisture. You would just throw it over top and no special box required
Oh sure I have got enough of that cloth. So you say just put them outside in permanent shade, throw the cloth over those plants, and mist every X minutes?
yes that is correct. If it is hot and sunny out then of course you will have to mist more often. Rainy weather would require much less misting. And regular watering of the pots daily as you normally would aside from the misting.
