Today I trimmed the understock from my 'Fairy Hair' graft. This necrotic area in the stem concerned me. Does that look like trouble or just expected die-back on the understock? Thanks for taking a look.
for me is start of pathology...but see in FAQ verticellum and relative possibility you have one chance good luck!!
Hey Pal, Were you just cleaning up the graft when you found that, or was there growth from below the graft? I have seen that discoloration when I cut off excess wood from the graft union. In circumstances when I left it alone - it died back to the graft on its own. Maybe that is what you are seeing. I hope! I hope! (FINGERS CROSSED!) Did you by any chance slice the removed piece lengthwise to look for the tell-tale green lines? I hope it is just die-back! I'd hate to think we were done in by Herter!! Especially when we forked out $$$ for those dang 'FH'! After I received my FH I had another order from him that was a complete mess. I do have many trees from him though and have never seen any indication of verticillium or other disease. I have had trouble with growth below the graft, pruning wounds, and bark cankers on his trees though.
Guys thanks for taking a look. Spook, i did not investigate further in search of the "tell tale green lines". There was no growth on this stem. I'm going to go with the theory that it's dieback on the understock. Not sure if there would be any action to take anyhow. Next spring i'll be vigilantly awaiting bud break.
