Side grafts..Birch.

[Firecat]

I have done (4) side grafts on a very leggy Birch..(Silver or White I'm not sure... I will hunt down the tag.)
The grafts were done with branches that had whipped out from around 30-70cm.
Using techniques from the forum re cuts,taping and sealing I started 15 days ago when the branches /buds had not swelled and all were very flexible to bend to required positions on the trunk.
Still a tall tree at 70cm it has budded out on all selected branches and seems to be showing no signs of stress or lack of vigor.
All branches had from 6 to 12 nodes and all are leafing out right to the tips leaving me with plenty of buds to eventually trim back when required.
As this is the first attempt and I should of researched the forums for the answer 'but'.

What signs should I look for to guarantee that grafts are indeed taking.
Time frame so as not to get too far ahead of myself and cut the back of the grafts.
How long before unwrapping tape.

I will post a picture soon.

Regards Steve.

[shibui]

I'll wait for the photos so I can check what sort of graft you have done before offering specific advice however leave tape on until you are certain grafts have healed properly - probably 12 months. Initially the join is very weak and even mild wind can move the scions enough to break them off.

[Elmar]

Steve,
How soon? Lol seems quite a few people are waiting...


Cheers
Elmar

[Firecat]

Steve,
How soon? Lol seems quite a few people are waiting...


Cheers
Elmar

Pics as promised although I took a while.
Have been trying to capture the leaf eating #&%$#...Earwigs and a couple of Millipedes.
As I posted grafts were only whips with nodes when I did the business now (tonight) they are growing quickly.

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[shibui]

Thanks for the pictures. Now I can see a bit clearer what you have done.
With all that putty on them it won't be easy to see how things are going. If you just use the tape you can usually see through the tape and see when the edges of the graft has healed. Unfortunately, with approach grafts like these there is no real sign that the graft is successful until you check the graft site because the scions are still being supplied from the plant so they grow whether the graft is good or not.
After the graft takes, you will often see the scion start to thicken just above the graft because it is getting 2 lots of food. I usually gently check after about 3 months to see if the scar is healing around the edges and joining together. When I'm happy they are united I cut a bit of the bark (around 1/2 of the diameter?) from the in side of the scion to try to frighten it into taking more sap from the stock then after a few more weeks cut the in side completely and cross fingers.
Timing will depend on how fast the tree is growing as well as how good your technique is. If everything goes really well they could be united in 4-5 weeks but I would not bank on that. I'd say at least 3 months but could even be longer.

Leave the tape on even after you cut the scions. The graft will be quite weak and needs support until the graft union has grown and formed some wood. Without support the weight of the branch or movement in a strong wind can break them off.

[Firecat]

Thanks shubui.
I will remove the putty straight away and will be watching and watching.
Later I'm thinking of air laying to reduce height next season...I thought when I got the tree home that it was grafted but due to nursery wisdom the '1st branch had been removed so I will layer it above the scar.
I seem to have layering going OK as I have a purple leaved flowering plum. a couple of olives and 3 mulberry trees all showing health,vigor and plenty of roots..The Plum I will let go another week and cut it off into a grow pot.
This plum and the mulberry;s were all layered as I noticed bud swell and are fully leaved out after a mid layer cab scrape 4 weeks ago before roots appeared as the callous closed a little...All is going well as I said with lush foliage.

Steve