Grafting cherries in the spring: what and how to graft cherries correctly, timing and tricks.
Even on the smallest plot there is always at least one cherry tree growing.
And why? Firstly, because growing and caring for the crop is quite simple. Secondly, and this is the main thing, the berry and all sorts of delicacies prepared from it are very tasty. In addition, having several varieties of cherries, the range of goodies, seemingly from the same berry, expands significantly. But it’s good if the plot is large and there is enough space for planting different varieties. But what to do when the territory is small? The first thing is not to get upset. Secondly, familiarize yourself with gardeners’ recommendations on how to plant cherries in the spring step by step, strictly following the order of these same steps. Why graft cherries?
By and large, cherries already feel great and produce a good harvest. But a good harvest and some kind of garden are not enough for a real gardener. We need strong plantings, tasty fruits, and an assortment. All this can be ensured by properly administered vaccinations. Of course, in addition to proper general care. So what do vaccinations do?
First. Reliability in terms of yield. Trees grown from seeds can to some extent be called inferior. They will grow, they will produce a harvest, but it will be small and from time to time. From grafted cuttings the culture turns out to be “reliable” and complete.
Second. Rejuvenation of plantings. Over time, the tree ages, dries out in places, and ceases to bear fruit. In order not to start growing cherries from the very beginning, from a seedling, relatively old trunks and branches, but still suitable for rootstock, are used to renew the garden.
Third. Expansion of the range. Let’s imagine that there is one cherry of a certain variety on the plot, there is no room to plant several more trees, but you want to have different varieties of berries. In this case, grafting other cherry varieties onto an existing tree will ideally solve all problems.
As an option for useful entertainment, we can mention the possibility of “placing”, say, a cherry tree on a cherry tree. It will turn out original, useful, there will be “two trees” in one place.
On what rootstocks does cherry develop well?
Cherry is an ideal grafting option - grafting on yourself is similar. There is an old but strong cherry tree in the garden, so a young tree can be “created” on it. It’s even better to use wildflower as a rootstock. This is the hardest thing that nature has ever come up with. Other types of trees are recommended:
Cherry is almost the same crop with similar characteristics. The cherry scion “accepts” very well.
Plum - despite its slightly different structure, cuttings grafted onto it take root well. One of the best trees for ensuring good graft survival.
Cherry plum is found almost everywhere; there are no problems finding a cherry plum rootstock. In addition, the crop tolerates severe frosts well, which makes it possible to grow frost-resistant cherries to some extent.
Thorn is the same plum, but more “wild”. Cherries are “accepted” well, cuttings take root well, and are used by gardeners quite often.
Bird cherry - we cannot say that this is a fruit tree, but it copes well with the role of a rootstock. The Antipka variety is considered the best for vaccinations.
Apricot is an option when everything else is missing. In practice, apricot rootstocks are rarely used.
Types of vaccinations, timing, preparation of cuttings
How the vaccination will be carried out depends on several factors: – time of work; – purpose of the event; – dimensions of the scion and rootstock used.
Budding - grafting with a bud. This method can be called universal, since work can be carried out at any warm time of the year, on a young branch of any size.
The whole process goes like this: – the desired kidney is selected; – cut from the branch so that the bark remains, about 2-3 centimeters long and 0.5-1 centimeter wide (depending on the size of the rootstock); – on a branch from top to bottom, a cut of bark with a small amount of wood is made to the length of the cut bark with a bud; – the cut part on the branch is shortened by half, a scion is applied to the cut site, the bottom is covered with half of the cut bark, the bud is wrapped, the areas of open wood are covered with garden varnish.
Copulation is a type of work when it is necessary to combine cuttings and shoots of the same size on a tree. Ideally, it is better to start grafting in this way at the beginning of the movement of the juice.
The procedure is simple: – smooth oblique cuts are made at an acute angle on the rootstock and scion; – the cut parts are combined; – wrapped and lubricated with garden varnish.
There is also improved copulation, but here everything is essentially the same as the usual one, only with a small addition. At the cut site, a small cut is made in the middle so that it looks like a tongue. For high-quality merging of cuttings and shoots, the method is good, although it is more difficult to implement.
Cleft grafting is rejuvenating. This is when a young promising cutting is pinned to the end of a completely removed branch or trunk.
Apart from some points, everything is quite simple: – the rootstock carefully splits into 10 centimeters; – the scion on one side is trimmed under the cone and inserted into the split; – the grafting site is tightened with tape or twine; – covered with garden varnish.
Regarding some points. The rootstock and scion will grow together quickly if the angle of cut on the cutting is equal to the angle of the split on the rootstock.
Grafting behind the bark is somewhat similar to splitting; it is also done from the end of the rootstock, but is simpler to perform.
All work is carried out in three stages: – the bark is cut along the branch and at the point of the cut it is “torn off” from the wood; – the cutting is cut at an acute angle and inserted under the bark; - everything is wrapped and treated with garden varnish.
If the entire procedure is carried out carefully, it turns out quickly, efficiently, without observing angles and dimensions.
Grafting into a side cut has worked well, but requires precision in preparing the cuttings and rootstock. A triangular cut is made on the cut branch from the end and side. At the same angle, the scion is cut in the form of a triangle and inserted into the triangle on the rootstock. The main difficulty of this method is that the angles of the cut on the branch and the cut on the handle are the same.
For special cases, a type of forced vaccination should be considered, so to speak. Forced because all of the above are done at will, but this one is done by circumstances. Bridge grafting is what we are talking about. It is carried out when the cherry bark is damaged artificially. For example, hares or other animals gnaw a ring of bark from the bottom of a tree trunk. Leave it like that and it will disappear. Wrapping it in something won't help. The only way to save the plantings is to “install” cuttings or pieces of thin roots from the same tree between the upper and lower sections of the preserved bark. In principle, this type of vaccination can be called bark grafting. Only in the first version the scion is fixed on one side, but here on both sides. Such cherry grafting in the spring has an unlimited time frame and is carried out upon damage to the tree.
Cherry grafting in spring: timing
Now on to the time of vaccinations. It has already been said about budding - this is the time from spring to autumn. It is better to do everything else in the spring, so that the cuttings receive maximum moisture during the spring sap flow for good fusion with the rootstock. But this is just a recommendation. With sufficient experience, work can be carried out throughout the season. Although there is still a certain risk of getting a negative result.
How to properly graft a cherry tree
There are various methods to properly graft a cherry tree.
Budding involves grafting with an eye (one bud), and copulation with a cutting, when the rootstock and scion have identical thickness
Both options can be implemented through a side cut behind the bark or into the butt. For beginners, the best method is grafting into the cleft. This method is the simplest and does not allow serious mistakes. To plant cherries in the spring step by step, you will need cuttings up to 16 cm in length with a couple of buds and the following algorithm of actions:
- They take the rootstock (the diameter of the branch is up to 6 cm) and make a cut, after which they clean it with a sharpened blade.
- Using an ax or a sharp blade, a split is made in the center of the rootstock branch, the depth of which should vary between 9-10.5 cm. If the split is too dense, you need to move the blade in different directions so that the cuttings fit into them.
- On one side of the cutting you will need to make a couple of side cuts to obtain a wedge. The depth should be identical to the length of the cut.
- After removing the hatchet, instead of it, you need to insert a small chop made of wood or a screwdriver, which will prevent the sides of the rootstock from closing. The cutting is placed in the area of the cleft so that the cambial layers coincide.
- The screwdriver must be removed without moving the scion. If the scion is thinner than the rootstock, a couple more cuttings are placed in the split.
The top of the rootstock is tied with adhesive tape. The area of the upper even cut on the grafted cutting and the grafting site are coated with a special varnish. Then they take a polyethylene bag and build a small greenhouse into which the grafted cutting is placed. This ensures that the required level of humidity in the grafting area is maintained. It takes root after 11-15 days, after which you can get rid of the package that acts as a greenhouse. It is not recommended to remove the adhesive tape until the scion and rootstock are completely fused.
How to properly plant cherries in spring
Grafting cherries into clefts in the spring is done using material purchased at the market or cut yourself in the spring.
Cherry cuttings
Harvesting cherry cuttings in the spring is carried out according to the following algorithm:
- The mother tree is inspected for the presence of normal shoots that appeared in last year's growth. They are distinguished by their shiny, glossy, thin and reddish bark.
- You need to make sure that the shoot contains only buds with sharp tips. Last year's growths with round buds are best suited for fruiting cherry crops.
- To cut the shoot, you need to use pruning shears, which remove buds from the tops and cut sticks up to 31 cm in length. Each cutting should have 4 buds.
The procedure should not be carried out in too hot or rainy weather. The most preferred time to plant the crop is a cool, cloudy day. It is not recommended to graft cherries with buds; it is better to carefully remove most of them before merging.
How to graft cherries in summer
Summer grafting of cherries with green cuttings is considered more problematic and complex than grafting done in the spring. Cherry can only be grafted onto a defect-free crop with a trunk of 6 cm in diameter and above.
What is the optimal time for summer grafting of cherries?
Tree grafting is familiar to every experienced gardener, and it is not for nothing that this activity is being used more and more often. Vaccination provides many advantages:
- Allows you to extend the life of a sick plant, which has been producing tasty fruits for a long time.
- Grafting helps improve the taste of fruits obtained from cultivated plantings.
- With the help of grafting, it is possible to get an unusual tree on which several different fruits will ripen at the same time.
Many types of cultivated trees can be seen on the site near the house or in the country, but probably the most common is the cherry. Without cherries, it is difficult to cook a delicious summer compote or jelly, which everyone loves without exception, but this berry stores a huge amount of valuable vitamins. Cherry grafting is done in stages; this process is carried out in the summer, but how exactly is worth understanding in more detail.
What is the best way to graft cherries?
Cherry grafting should be done in the summer on a completely healthy tree, the thickness of the trunk will be at least 5 centimeters.
According to experts, cherry grafting should be carried out on a representative of the same subspecies. That is, it is optimal to graft cherries onto another variety of a similar stone fruit plant. If the grade matches perfectly, the bud grafting will be effective and the new cutting will quickly take root on the tree. However, you can graft cherries onto another type of tree if you want to experiment.
Most often, cherry grafting is carried out on plum trees, since plum rootstocks are similar to stone fruit rootstocks in many respects. Ideally, choose a semi-wild plum variety that is least susceptible to various diseases and adapts well to the region. In this option, grafting is carried out in the so-called split, but other methods are available if desired.
Further care
For grafting to be successful, young cherry and plum trees should be properly cared for. After combining the scion and rootstock, the place of their contact is tightly fixed with tape. It is also well sealed using garden varnish or wax. From above this place can be wrapped with a cellophane bag or film.
The vaccine remains in this form for about one month. During this period, the cutting should take root on the tree and actively begin to grow. When a month has passed, the film is removed from the grafting site. To prevent the grafted shoot from being broken by strong winds, it is additionally fixed with a splint.
In addition, young shoots are removed from the tree. Otherwise, it will take nutrients from the cuttings. It is important to feed the plum well during the period of active growth of the grafted cherry shoot. For these purposes, nitrogenous types of fertilizers are used, since nitrogen stimulates active growth in plants. In autumn, phosphorus or potassium fertilizers are applied.
Knowing how to graft a cherry onto a plum tree, you can carry it out without any problems and get a plant that bears two types of fruit at once.
Grafting cherries onto different trees
Grafting cherries onto cherries, of any variety, can be no less successful, since these representatives of the trees belong to the same type of stone fruit. Due to their similarity, cherry cuttings will quickly grow together with the rootstock if the grafting is done in the summer, at the time of abundant juice production.
A strong tree called cherry plum, not susceptible to various diseases, is often used as a rootstock for different subspecies of stone fruits. The turn is no less popular. If the tree is absolutely healthy, then it is ideal for grafting onto a cherry tree. Many gardeners have already used it for grafting and are convinced of the effectiveness of this event.
Cherry grafting is a responsible process, and the rootstock plays an important role in it. Therefore, you need to choose its type carefully and thoughtfully. If doubts creep in, it is better not to continue the process, but to seek advice from a specialist.
Preparing the grafting instrument
All grafting tools used must be clean and the knife well sharpened. With a dull knife it will be impossible to make an even cut, which is necessary for grafting cuttings. As a binding material, you can use a special polyethylene tape; it can be used to fix the scion with the rootstock so that the cherry grafting takes place efficiently and quickly. With the help of pitch, used for gardening, all cuts that were made on garden crops are processed so that the trees can heal their wounds faster.
Scion preparation
- Grafting plums onto cherries is often carried out in the spring, after the snow has melted, the buds swell, and sap flow begins, but cuttings are harvested in the fall after the leaves fall.
- Cut shoots should be at least 10-15 cm long and have 2-3 buds. After cutting, the scion is placed in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf, where it will not freeze too much. The cuttings are first placed in moistened sawdust and wrapped in a damp cloth.
- The day before the procedure, the scion should be removed from the refrigerator and placed in a container with warm water.
- Next, the terminal end of the shoot is removed and a beveled cut is made. After these activities, the scion is ready for the procedure.
Grafting plum onto cherry
What time of year is best to choose for grafting?
Cherry grafting can be carried out both in spring and summer, and even in winter. Winter grafting very rarely gives a positive result, since the trees are dormant, the air temperature is sub-zero, and sap flow is not observed. The most optimal times for grafting are spring and summer. In the spring, the first cherry grafting is done, when sap flow is in its most active phase.
If for some reason the cutting does not take root at this time, the procedure can be repeated in the summer. In the summer, the process of sap flow does not stop, so there is a high probability of excellent survival of the cuttings in the previously prepared rootstock.
Source: dachavremya.ru
Cherry: secrets of high-quality grafting
Do you want to enjoy delicious cherries grown in your own garden? Grafting will help you with this, which every gardener should learn. You will be able to grow seedlings yourself, graft the best varieties and renew trees if they are damaged. Cherry grafting will allow you to save money and feel like a real creator.
Don't know how to vaccinate yet? Then we go to you!
