grafting my apple tree

I have an apple tree that I was going to cut down because I don't like the fruit, but then I learned that I could graft another variety on it.
Where can I find apple scions in Vancouver?
Is it to late to graft this spring?

 

Sorry for the negative answer, but if you've never grafted before, the odds that you will be successful on your first attempt aren't that good. Even in commercial nurseries, not all grafts take.

In other words, if this is going to be your only grafting experience it is probably far more trouble than it is worth.

 

Can't hurt to try. I won't be too disappointed if I'm not successful.

 

OK.
What variety of apple do you have now? What is the rootstock? And, what variety do you want to graft?
As it turns out, not all varieties do well with all rootstocks. That is stock and scion must be compatible.


Also, how big (diameter of truck, height of tree) is your apple? And, how old is the tree? Not super important but helpful in determining what sort of graft will be attempted. The younger the tree, the better.

And, yes, it is getting kind of late. Probably not too late but definitely at the tail end of the grafting season. The best time for grafting is in the spring just as growth starts or before new growth begins and after winter's cold has passed.

As for where to get your scion, it depends on what variety you are attempting to get. But commercially, it is probably too late to order for this season. Your best chance is a tree close to hand.

 

Okay. I don't know what kind of apple tree it is nor how old it is. The apples are a yellowish-green colour. The tree is at least 10 years old.
Can I use a branch cut this spring from another tree? Thanks for your help.

 

Probably too late.

 

It is rather late for regular grafting, but budding could be tried in June.

 

It doesn't seem the this would be much of a problem. Its been 20 years since my grafting experiments. But I succeeded with 80% of my first attempts.

If the graft or grafts don't take, its only a small matter of time.

How many grafts do you expect to try on the single tree? Because at that age, you may end up with a lot of what it is now, for a while, and not much of what you add.

 

Thanks for your encouraging figures. I think I'll have to wait until next spring, so I'll have more time to gather good scions and learn the proper technique. Do you think I should try several on an older tree? Should I prune much of the tree this year?
Thanks