seigen graft problem

andrew lenden

I have this seigen maple which was a japanese grafted import that has been in the u.k. for a number of years. Unfortunately there is a step down at the graft point that is getting worse. The acer palmatum stock is fatter and more vigourous than than the seigen scion. Is there any way of reversing this? or am i fighting a losing battle. i,ve heard of bashing with hammers and cutting vertical lines and the like but i imagine this would have to go on infinitum to keep up with the expanding stock with the resultant scarring being just as unattractive, any ideas short of layering just below the graft point? regards andrew

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007

From what I have been told, its a losing battle. Air-layering above the union is the only permanent fix.

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Lee

i'd imagine airlayering would be the easiest way,kev in your local club would be the man to see,how do you get on with the leaves getting fried in the sun with this species?

TreeBay

Letting that first branch grow unrestrained (the branch on the right, immediately above the graft) should help disguise the transition.

Regards,

Matt

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Carl_Bergstrom

Why not layer just above the graft point?

It should be a sure thing if done propertly.

-Carl

andrew lenden

Like this Matt?

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andrew lenden

Lee, yes it does get its leaves fried but i think more by wind than sun but not as badly as other seigens i,ve got. these are on their own roots which has got me thinking to try and layer just below the graft in case the rootstock is helping in this one being a little more leaf hardy. Carl, as well as the above i,ve heard a few times of people successfully airlayering red palmatums (mainly deshojos) only to have them die the next season. so just being a bit cautious as the seigen in these parts anyway is a bit rarer and more delicate than the deshojos, regards andrew

Carl_Bergstrom

Hi Andrew,

Based upon my own experience with several dozen Acer palmatum cultivars on their own roots, many of which I layered myself and can directly compare to the grafted parent, I personally think that the "cultivars-are-weaker-on-their-own-roots" story is largely myth. (I freely admit that opinions in the Japanese maple community are divided on this and there are horticulturalists that I respect on both sides of the argument.) I personally would take the risk (if there is a risk at all) rather than live with the problematic junction --- even at ground level.

Best wishes,
Carl

Vonsgardens

cultivars are weakeron their own roots when exposed to the slings and arrows of growing in the ground. It he relatively controlled environs of a pot, the cultivars that I have dealt with are just fine. I am sure that someone can come up with a particularly weak variegated, viral, culticar that won't grow on it's own roots. I concede the fact. Seigen will do fine.

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