Is this graft technique possible on black pine?

rlist

Interested in what you discover.

__________________
NW Oregon, Zone 8a
Check out my new blog here...
Both gold and muck come out of the same shaft...

Advertisement

bonsaikc

It seems a lot of trouble to take several months to accomplish what grafting the bud can do in just a few minutes.

__________________
Chris Johnston
"She was a critic, and lots fo critics who aren't called to do what they write about grow jealous and mean and small in their disappointment." - Stephen King, Duma Key
Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

Graydon

Chris - I respect your abilities and knowledge. You have written a great article on JBP bud grafting and it works. It is a very proven method used to get the results needed. But I think it would be short sighted to make such a statement as above without seeing the stock and looking at the opportunity to try another method that can be just as viable as bud grafting. Perhaps more viable based on the 'scion' is not severed until it takes and has fused and grown for a year. It can also be done year round (at least here) and you can use older wood, not just last years fall shoot.

I call it "medusa" based on the profuse amount of long, skinny branches coming from all over. It was an ignored nursery pine sitting on a field for years. No water other than rain, no fertilizer or pruning. I have it at a local nursery for now based on the sheer weight. It's root-bound in a 30 gallon pot with heavy clay soil. I think it was chopped at 24" or so. Base is roughly 8" across. Final height will hopefully be around 16" to 18" with a dense canopy to hide the next chop. I left it tall so I would have plenty of scion stock for grafting.

1st photo is "medusa from above. 2nd shot is "medusa" from close to the front showing the bast taper it has to offer. 3rd shot is a big bend in progress and the 4th shot is next step of the bend.

As you can see I am working with something larger than a small bud that will take forever to catch up with the scale of the trunk. I am able to select and bend so that I have a 'scion' that has an inter-node very close to the graft spot. With some prudent pinching and directional pruning I will be able to create some movement in the branches.

If it works - good. If not no loss. I can always bud graft - right? Just a project tree for less than $100.

Attached Images

IMG_1507.jpg (30.2 KB, 55 views)

__________________

Graydon

Sorry - here are the rest of the photos.

2nd shot is "medusa" from close to the front showing the bast taper it has to offer. 3rd shot is a big bend in progress and the 4th shot is next step of the bend.

Attached Images

	IMG_1509.jpg (35.2 KB, 45 views)
	IMG_1512.jpg (55.3 KB, 38 views)
	IMG_1517.jpg (50.0 KB, 46 views)

__________________

Vonsgardens

Graydon, those spindly branches are young enough to force back budding on to or near the trunk. As an experiment in the spring, cut the candles on a couple of the "useless" ones back to here you have 6 needles or so left. Fertilize and watch. I'll bet you get buds back to the trunk on those branches. John

__________________
"Wiring is simple; However, it is not easy to do it right" Boon

Graydon

That has been considered John. We actually have like 7 of these trees with this one being the largest and farthest gone. Some of the 4" trees actually have pushed out small buds all up and down the trunk.

I do think I can force back budding on the branches, however the needles are only on the last 4" or 5" of a pencil caliper branch that is 12" to 16" long. I have done this on other, healthier pines before and gotten profuse buds but those pines were healthy and vigorous. This one was almost gone when I got it. I would like to give it a year or so to get it growing full tilt again and then whack it hard. As you pointed out I have plenty of spindly branches to try.

I know this is a long process that may produce a fair tree at best but the experience is worth the effort. Hate to try stuff on good trees (if you know what I mean).

Thanks for the input - will update as I do stuff.

__________________