Air Layering & Grafting with Pines

[The Specimen]

Has anyone experience / knowledge whether pines can be air layered more specifically Mugo Pines?

Can cuttings and grafting also be done successfully?

[shibui]

Pines can be air layered but it does take a bit longer than some other species sometimes over 12 months. I'd guess mugho would be easier than black pines because, for me, they are easier as cuttings?
I have grown mugho from cuttings. Sometimes quite successful, other times not so good. Use 1 year old wood but do not keep too wet. Black, red and white pines can also be struck as cuttings the same way.
Grafting should be successful but if you mean onto other species as rootstock I have no info about which would be compatible and which not.

[The Specimen]

Shibui thanks for your post really.

I have a mugo with long flimsy limbs with branches at the end.. would you air layer this?

Limbs are .5-1 inch in diameter and I would hate to see it go to waste.

Also would you be at the upcoming events? I do look forward to seeing your display and pre stocks!

[Andrew E]

Worth a go if you really want to. As Shibui said tho they are slow to root. Grafting is all about the contact between the scion/ graft and the tree. Get them lined up correctly (cambium layers) and maintain humidity of the scion (you'll often see them wrapped in plastic or the whole tree put into a poly tunnel) and you'll have a good chance of success.
As I said worth a go for free trees and good practice if you haven't done some before, and if they don't make it then you've lost nothing really as you'll still have the main tree.
Good luck with em.

Andrew

[shibui]

1/2 to 1 cm branches should be quite young and will probably still have smooth bark so should layer relatively easily. I'd definitely try. you might even be lucky and get some back budding below the layers - Mugho bud more readily on bare wood than most pines.
If the trunk is really good I would try inarch grafts to get shoots close to the base. the long flexible branches of mugho are ideal to bend back and graft onto the base of either themselves or nearby branches. if the trunk is not great it is not worth the time and trouble.

I'll have stock at the BSV show in October now that dates do not clash with Canberra and then at Canberra show the following weekend. Look forward to saying hi to new and old friends.

[xtolord]

have a look at this blog : http://muranakabonsainursery.blogspot.com/
The guy there is air layering pines [ with some explanation ] as well as trying out varying air layering experiments to get a thicker base with a head start nebari with an airlayer...