Air layer ornamental cherry

[zimzallabim]

I have this big old ornamental cherry in the back yard. I'd live to do an air layer inn one if the old thick branches. I have a couple of questions;

1. What time of year is best?

2. The leaves are quite large on the tree, will they reduce in size significantly with appropriate care?

3. Any suggestions appreciated









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[treeman]

Unless you have experience with cherries I would advise against it but if you want to have a play give it a try. Keep in mind that cherry wood rots very easily and grafted trees are more difficult to layer.

[zimzallabim]

Please elaborate?

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[shibui]

Cherries are a pain. They get lots of diseases unless you know how to treat them properly and they die very easily.
They also need special pruning. They get disease easily if pruned at the wrong time. If you prune incorrectly they will not flower well.
Varieties that are grafted are often grafted because they are difficult to grow on their own roots so some of the varieties that we see as grafted trees are difficult to layer because they don't grow roots very well. If they do grow roots the roots may be weak and the tree will slowly die.

Having said all that what have you got to lose? If you have the time and space to try why not give it a go and see what happens?

[zimzallabim]

Yep. It's due for a hard cut back anyway. I kinda know my way around the garden so standard care is not an issue.

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[zimzallabim]

Quite sure it's not grafted, nit definitely but. It's probably been there 60-70 years!

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[zimzallabim]

Only thing I need to know.is best time to propagate, as you said wring time can stunt flowers which I have done a few times over the years on this tree.

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[shibui]

I would try spring - after the leaves have opened. Active growth should mean less chance of gummosis , etc getting in through the wounds.

[zimzallabim]

Thanks Shibui

It's had like 4-5 foot of growth over the season so should get some nice flowering at least if I fail hahaha

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