Air Layering - when to do it?

[jwishbone]

Hi

Just bought a 2 metre Acer Negundo and thinking of applying 1 to 2 air layering on it

Is it too late to air layer the tree at this time of year???


Is there a specific season where air layering would work out best???


also when air layering... should I prune branches and roots (report) to encouage tree to move nutrients up its trunk???

seeing that all leaves seems to have come out already on the tree??

or will I just be creating more damage to the tree, that the tree can handle....


thanks guys!

[Bretts]

I thought early spring but Don told me November was the best time to air layer the persian ironwood I bought off him. I thought that may have been species specific but resently heard the same advice for another deciduous tree.

[Chris H]

I did mine two weeks ago so I hope its ok!

[Gerard]

Its perfect to do air layering on a maple now, should be ready to remove first week in Feb

Gerard

[jwishbone]

thats what I wanted to hear hehehe


another thing..

is it good idea to prune branches and roots with the intention of air layering the trunk?

or best to minimise the damage on the tree?

[Bretts]

I would say minimise damage as it is lots of growth you are after to speed up the process. Don't be concerned about pruning back branches that may be in the way though.

[shibui]

Leave plenty of leaves and branches above the layers to encourage roots. The more leaves the tree has the more energy it can produce to grow new bits. Excess growth above the roots can be removed when you finally separate the new tree. i have layered a number of branches in the last month or two. One Japanese maple that I layered before the leaves came out has died but all the others are looking well a couple of Poncirus (citrus rootstocks) that i put layers on last year refused to produce roots but have started to root this spring. Others worked perfectly. Good luck

[jwishbone]

thanks heaps guys

I will advise of my progress

[kcpoole]

I have put on about 6 layers in the last 3 weeks, 1 tonight on my new Hokkaido

I will do them all spring, and again in summer after the end of the heat here in sydney

Ken

[Chris H]

Ken your gunna need a bigger yard!

[kcpoole]

Ken your gunna need a bigger yard!

LOL I know

Just have to put more in the ground I think (shssssh, don't tell the wife )

Ken

[paddles]

Ken your gunna need a bigger yard!

LOL I know

Just have to put more in the ground I think (shssssh, don't tell the wife )

Ken

Hiding trees around the yard is a time honored tradition..... (truely dear, it's a self seeded tree)

This only works if the partner in question is ignorant, for instance, I got away with a 4 ft grafted tree for years, he just didn't notice the graft, and believed that it was a fast growing tree.....

[jwishbone]

... but its more fun sneaking around!

the fun stops when they find out

HAHA

[Jamie]

hey pal i put on an air layer in early oct. and today i took a good look and have found a flush of new roots, it is very strong for something thats only been on for a feww weeks
a lot of the thicker roots are now brown with white tips coming off them, i am amazed at how fast this has happened, its a corky bark elm. i just used a standard ring bark method, rooting hormone and sphagnum wrapped in a plastic and i covered with a pot, one thing i did try was to leave some spots slightly open on the plastic to allow the roots to breathe, i dont know if this is normal practice but it has smahed out new leaves, oh i didnt prune nothing off either, it has heaps of growth on top

and as for hiding trees in the yard, yea right, my wife would know somethings going on and then it would be a case of you spent money on something now i get to spend money on something

jamie

[jwishbone]

thanks for that

do you get better result with spaghum moss vs normal soil (potting mix)???