To obtain new varieties of apple trees, gardeners resort to an operation such as vaccination. There are many ways to pin the desired variety. The choice of method depends on the season and experience. Vaccination is not as complicated as it requires attention and accuracy. The success of the event to a large extent depends on the right rootstock and scion preparation.
Vaccination of the apple tree and why is it needed
Many gardeners have heard of the concept of vaccination. However, not everyone knows what it is, why, and how to carry it out. One of the popular garden crops, which is often subjected to vaccination and re-grafting, is an apple tree. In simple terms, this procedure is a fusion of two plants with different properties. Over the years, the apple tree has been cultivated by man in order to improve the taste and size of the fruit. This situation, when the tree is susceptible to frost, disease and drought, is not uncommon.
If we consider a wild apple tree, then it is much better adapted to the environment. The root system of the wild game is located quite deep, which contributes to good tree retention, resistance to winds and load under the crop. At the same time, the taste qualities of the fruits of such an apple tree do not suit a person. However, vaccination can combine the properties of a cultivated and wild plant. As a result of such crossing, it is possible to obtain a tree that will have tasty fruits, higher resistance to diseases, a root system that allows you to extract moisture and nutrition from the depths. All of the above is the primary and main task.
Vaccination of the apple tree allows you to improve the quality and size of the fruit and the overall resistance of the tree to diseases and climatic influences
However, vaccination is also used to achieve the following goals:
- quickly propagate a favorite or rare variety;
- accelerate the onset of fruiting;
- replace the variety of adult apple trees;
- increase the size of the fruit;
- get several varieties on one tree;
- make changes to the crown if it is asymmetrical or one-sided.
When is it best to plant an apple tree
Vaccination events can actually be carried out at any time of the year. However, each season has its own nuances. If the procedure is performed properly, but at the wrong time, then the graft will simply not take root, and the tree may hurt or die at all.
Priva - a stalk (shoot), which merges with the stock. A stock is called the bottom of a grafted tree.
In the spring, vaccination works are carried out at the beginning of sap flow, i.e. when the tree is at rest and the buds have not yet woken up. This is explained by the fact that at this time the processes that occur in the tree are aimed only at supporting life. If the growing season has not begun, then the stalk simply will not be able to take root. Determining the timing of spring vaccination is quite simple:
- the buds were barely swollen, but their growth had not yet begun;
- tree branches have acquired a red tint;
- with mechanical action, the bark is separated and cambium remains on it.
Cambium - green fabrics located under the bark.
During grafting of the cuttings, it is necessary to combine cambial layers of the scion and stock
Depending on the region and climatic features, the spring vaccination occurs at the end of March and beginning of April. At later dates, the grafted material will most likely be rejected.
As for the summer period, most gardeners do not carry out such procedures at this time. It is generally accepted that the scion takes root very poorly, and the tree itself can only suffer from such an operation. However, it is not always possible to vaccinate in the spring, because time may simply not be enough. If we approach the issue under consideration more seriously, we can find out that grafting an apple tree in summer is possible, but at certain times:
- the fruits begin to pour;
- an apical bud formed on the shoots;
- bark, as well as in spring, is easily separated from wood;
- on annual shoots, the internodes of the upper part were reduced.
In the summer, vaccination is best done at the end of July.
Cleavage in the fall is far from suitable for every region. So, in areas that are characterized by early frosts, all work can go down the drain. If for some reason it was not possible to plant an apple tree in spring or summer, then it is permissible to execute it in early autumn, and more specifically, in the first days of September. In regions with warm winters and late frosts, work can be carried out until mid-October.
Winter vaccination is carried out indoors, so all materials are procured in advance:
- one and two-year stocks are dug up in late autumn, and stored for storage in a frost-free room;
- as a scion use cuttings with 2-4 kidneys, which are harvested at the beginning of winter.
The stock is brought into heat 7 days before the work, and cuttings 2-3 days. The timing of winter vaccination is carried out in mid-December, and grafted seedlings are planted around the second half of March. Store planting material at a temperature of 0 ... -4˚С.
How to prepare cuttings
Before proceeding with the procedure, you need to know how to harvest cuttings for grafting. The tree from which the shoot is planned to be cut must be fruitful and characterized by steady fruiting. You need to choose the ripened annual twigs from the southern part of the tree.
Cuttings are recommended to be cut from the middle tier of the crown.
When harvesting cuttings, annual branches are cut from the southern part of the crown
As for the timing of harvesting cuttings, the views of gardeners differ. Some people think that it is better to carry out the procedure at the beginning of winter, others - at the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Alternatively, shoots can be prepared immediately before vaccination. The main thing is that they do not have buds open. The shank that is best suited for the scion must meet the following requirements:
- length should be 30-40 cm;
- shoot diameter should be 6-7 mm;
- the kidneys should not bloom;
- internodes should not be short;
- cutting is best done with a young fruiting tree no more than 10 years old.
Video: harvesting fruit tree cuttings
How to plant an apple tree
The culture in question, depending on the season, can be inoculated in many ways. Therefore, each of them should be considered in more detail.
Bridge grafting
Such a vaccination differs from other methods in that it is not intended to produce new varieties. The main objective of this method is to restore the tree from one or another damage. Quite often, rodents, severe frosts or the sun cause considerable harm to apple trees. When a wound appears, there is an obstacle to normal sap flow, which must be restored. It is worth considering that this procedure is not easy and not every gardener will cope with it.
For grafting with a bridge, apple trees with a trunk diameter of at least 30 mm are suitable.
The operation in question should be carried out at the beginning of sap flow. Depending on the climate zone, the timing may vary. It should be guided by the following sign: if the bark is well separated, then it's time to start vaccination. But first you need to prepare everything you need. Of the tools and materials you will need:
- grafting knife;
- secateurs;
- binding material;
- putty.
The knife is the main tool for gardening vaccination
Scion cuttings should be selected 10 cm longer than the width of the damaged area. As a rule, shoots with a thickness of 4-5 mm are chosen. If the tree has significant damage, the cuttings should be thicker. For the bridge, you can use shoots even from a wild apple tree. They can be harvested from autumn to mid-winter.
Bridge grafting is used to restore sap flow in case of bark damage
Vaccination with a bridge consists of the following step-by-step actions:
- We clean the damaged area and lightly wipe it with a damp cloth.
- We trim the edges of the bark with a sharp knife, avoiding damage to the wood.
- We select the desired number of cuttings, which depends on the nature of the damage. For small wounds, 2-4 cuttings will be required, and for large-diameter trunks, 8-10 pieces. If the cuttings were stored in a refrigerator, they are preheated to room temperature.
- We remove the buds from the shoots, and cut the edges obliquely.
- On the bark of the tree above and below the damaged area, departing 1 cm from the edge, make T-shaped cuts.
- The edges of the notches are bent and we insert cuttings into them: they should be slightly curved. In the process, it is important not to confuse the top and bottom of the cuttings. The shoots are arranged evenly in a circle.
- We cover the place of vaccination with garden var and fix the cuttings with electrical tape.
Video: a method of grafting trees with a bridge
Vaccination for bark
One of the easy ways to get your vaccines recommended for beginners is to get your bark vaccinated. The procedure is carried out during sap flow and is used to transplant adult apple trees or simply branches of large thickness. By timing, such vaccination is carried out, as a rule, in May. In order for the operation to be successful, first you need to prepare.
To start, prepare the stock. The branch to be re-grafted is cut with a sharp saw in the sequence indicated in the image.
If the stock has a large diameter, it is cut in a certain sequence
This is especially important when cutting thick branches to avoid breaking. After they clean the saw cut with a sharp knife and proceed to the preparation of the scion. As a grafting material, as a rule, the middle part of the handle is used. This is explained by the fact that the kidneys in the upper part are located close to each other, and in the lower part they are poorly developed. For work, you need a vaccination knife and garden putty.
The procedure consists of the following steps:
- The lower part of the scion is cut obliquely. The cut should be 3-4 cm long and have a flat surface. There should be a kidney on the handle on the opposite side. A second cut is made in the upper part above the third kidney.
The bottom at the bottom is cut obliquely
- A bark is cut into the rootstock to a length of 3-4 cm, the bone of the inoculation knife is separated from the wood.
- A cuttings are inserted into the resulting gap in such a way that the oblique cut enters the cut of the bark on the tree.
Cuttings are inserted into the rootstock so that the oblique cut goes into the bark cut on the tree
- The bark is pressed tightly and wrapped with a special film or electrical tape.
To fix the cuttings, the vaccination site is wrapped with electrical tape
Vaccination in this way can be performed without cutting the bark. To do this, the bark is carefully separated with a peg and the prepared scion is inserted. At the end of the procedure, the jointing place, the end face of the cut branch and the upper part of the cuttings are coated with garden varieties.
Depending on the thickness of the stock, a different number of cuttings can be grafted. So, on a branch with a diameter of 2-3 cm, one stalk can be grafted, two on 5-7 cm, three on 8-10 cm.
Grafting apple tree with grafting secateurs
An apple tree and other fruit trees can be grafted using a grafting secateurs. This tool allows you to qualitatively complete the operation, even with insufficient experience. It is recommended to conduct it no earlier than April, and you can later. The tool is quite easy to use, so everyone can handle it. The work is carried out in the following order:
- Secateurs on the stock make an incision.
An incision is made on the rootstock using secateurs
- An incision is also made on the scion. It is important to ensure that the shape of the notch is the inverse section of the stock.
The shape of the notch on the scion should be the back rootstock
- The joints are connected, after which the site is treated with garden var.
- The place of vaccination is wrapped with electrical tape or a special film.
The place of vaccination is wrapped with electrical tape or a special film and put on a bag to maintain moisture
Root vaccination
There are situations when it is possible to get a stalk of an interesting apple variety, and there is nothing to plant it on. In this case, do not be upset. Vaccination can be performed on the root of the tree. Sometimes the roots of the apple tree are located at a shallow depth and when digging a plot they can be found almost on the surface. During the appearance of buds on the tree, you can vaccinate. To do this, follow these steps:
- A meter from the trunk cut the root. Then it is washed with clean water, wiped with a cloth, and cleaned with a sharp knife.
- The graft is grafted using the method of bark with a saddle.
- The vaccine is tied with insulating tape, and the upper and lower parts of the stem are coated with garden varieties.
- To avoid damage to the scion, it is fenced with pegs.
A bark graft with a saddle is slightly different from the usual method.
If the procedure is successful, the kidneys will start growing. The following year, you can separate the young apple tree and transplant it to another place.
Video: how to get root vaccination
Root inoculation
To vaccinate the root collar you will need the following tools and materials:
- secateurs;
- sharp knife;
- cuttings;
- banding material;
- some clean rags.
For grafting, a knife, secateurs, wrapping tape and cuttings are used.
Of the cuttings prepared in advance, it will be necessary to cut the middle part, performing the upper cut above the kidney by 2-3 mm. As a stock you can use a little wilds. The process itself is performed as follows:
- They dig a little around the grafting zone, wash away the dirt and wipe the trunk with a rag.
- Pruners cut the wildcat at the level of the root neck or just above it.
- An oblique cut with a tongue is made, for which the base of the trunk is placed between the soles of the feet.
- On the trunk, using a knife, make an oblique cut about 3 cm long with a movement up.
- At a distance of 1 cm from the edge of the cut, a vertical cut is made to a depth of 1 cm.
- In the lower part of the cuttings, the same oblique cut is performed as on the rootstock, then a cut is made 1 cm deep into the wood.
- Insert the handle into the rootstock and wrap it around the harness.
Kidney Inoculation
Vaccination of an apple tree with a kidney (eye) is also called budding. The procedure is carried out in the summer, usually in late July-early August. For this method, cuttings 25-40 cm long with the growth of the current year will be required. Shoots should be lignified, have healthy leaves and smooth bark. Foliage is best removed to reduce moisture evaporation, but petioles should be left.
The best time to harvest cuttings is the morning hours on the day of vaccination.
The technology itself comes down to the following steps:
- Foliage and branches are removed from the rootstock at a height of 15-20 cm from the ground.
- The place of the future vaccination and the stalk from which the kidney will be taken are washed with clean water and wiped with a dry cloth.
- With a knife on the rootstock make a T-shaped incision, dropping down by 2-3 cm.
On the rootstock make a T-shaped section of the bark
- They lift the bark by the corners at the place of the resulting intersection.
With a knife, the edges of the bark are separated from the wood
- Selecting a kidney on the handle, cut it off along with a part of the stem 2.5-3 cm long. The kidney should be located in the middle of the shield.
The selected bud on the handle is cut off along with part of the stem
- With the help of the grafting knife bone, the bark is pushed to the rootstock so that the shield with the kidney easily enters.
- Insert the kidney all the way, holding it by the handle.
The kidney is inserted into the incision until it stops
- If the flap turned out to be too big, the excess is cut off at the level of the transverse notch on the stock.
If the shield is too big, cut off the excess with a knife
- The vaccination site is wrapped with electrical tape, and the kidney itself is left open.
The place of vaccination is wrapped with electrical tape or another winding, leaving the kidney open
This method is also called T-shaped inoculation.
Video: apple tree budding
Drilling inoculation
There is a somewhat unusual way of grafting an apple tree - by drilling. The method is not so popular, but you can try as an experiment.
For grafting by drilling, it is necessary to make a hole in the grafted graft by means of a drill
The bottom line is drilling a hole in the scion to a depth of 7-20 mm, cutting off part of the wood from the stock and then combining the cambial layers. After the procedure, the plot is isolated with garden var.
Crown Inoculation
Gardeners, as a rule, always have a desire to have many varieties of fruit trees. However, the size of the plot sometimes does not allow to plant many seedlings. In this case, you can create a tree with several varieties by grafting into the crown. When planting two trees, 3-4 varieties of apple or pear can be grafted into the crown of each of them.
When planting different varieties, it must be taken into account that all of them must be of the same ripening period.
Healthy and strong trees that have an annual growth of branches at least 25-30 cm long are suitable for such a procedure. The optimal age for grafting is 4-10 years. The operation is best carried out in the spring during the period of active sap flow, i.e., before flowering. It boils down to the following actions:
- Cuttings are grafted at a height of 90-120 cm from the ground on well-developed branches located at an angle of 45-60˚ from the trunk.
- The branches to be re-grafted are trimmed with a garden hacksaw, backing 30-50 cm from the trunk. After cutting, the surface is cleaned with a garden knife.
- As a scion, annual shoots with 3-4 buds are used. This will allow you to see the first fruits in 2-3 years.
- The stalk is spliced according to the selected grafting method, for example, into a cleft.
- The scion is tied with electrical tape or film, and open wounds are coated with garden var.
- At the end of the procedure, a paper bag is put on the branch for 2 weeks, which eliminates the drying of the cuttings.
Video: tree grafting in the crown
Vaccination of an apple tree in a lateral incision
This method is suitable for branches with different diameters. Its distinguishing feature is the high fusion strength of stock and scion. The procedure can be performed in winter, summer or spring. The optimal time is the beginning of spring during the period of kidney swelling. For grafting use cuttings harvested in the fall. The method consists of the following steps:
- On the rootstock make an oblique incision of wood.
Preparation of stock for vaccination in lateral incision
- On the scion, 2 oblique slices are performed by analogy with the graft inoculation.
When preparing the scion, the lower part is cut obliquely on both sides
- Insert the handle into the gap formed on the stock, smear it with garden putty and make a winding.
The graft is inserted into the stock on the stock and wrapped with a strapping material
Crowning of apple seedlings using the knip-baum method
Growing seedlings using the technology of knip-baum (flowering tree) allows you to get trees that enter fruiting 1-2 years after planting, which contributes to the rapid growth of the crop. With this method, they resort to summer and spring budding, as well as winter vaccination. The knip-baum system provides for several stages:
- in the first year of growing seedlings, stock is planted and its budding is carried out;
- in the second year, they grow an annual;
- in the third year, they cut off annuals at a height of 70-90 cm, drive out the central conductor from the upper kidney with short lateral shoots and obtuse angles of departure from the central trunk, on which fruit buds are laid.
Video: grafting seedlings using knip-baum technology
Vaccination of apple trees according to the system of V. Zhelezov
Valery Zhelezov, who is a gardener with extensive experience, offers to be vaccinated on 1-2-year-old seedlings near the ground (2-5 cm) with cuttings harvested from autumn. Thus, it is possible to get strong and early-growing trees. In addition, it is recommended to be vaccinated in spring, when the ground thaws on 2 bayonets of a shovel. In this case, you must adhere to the following scheme for combining scion and stock:
- The seedling and the graft being grafted should be the same in length and diameter.
- Sleeping kidneys are not suitable for this purpose.
With this method, it is possible to ensure that the age of the scion and the stock is the same.
Sleeping (hidden) kidneys are those that do not develop in a timely manner and swim with the bark, remaining in a sleeping state.
The essence of the method is as follows:
- Dig a 1-2-year-old stalk out of the snow.
- Inoculate the escape into the cleft.
A stock on a stock is grafted using the split method
- Cover the seedling with a clear plastic bottle with a cut bottom.
After vaccination, the seedling is covered with a plastic bottle
- So that the bottle is not blown away by the wind, an additional reinforcement is made of brick.
Video: inoculation of an apple tree according to Zhelezov
Split vaccine
This method of vaccination is quite simple and recommended for beginner amateur gardeners. Apple can be grafted into the split throughout the year, but the most favorable period is still considered spring and summer, namely during active sap flow, which contributes to rapid survival. The essence of the method is that the stock is split with a grafting knife and a scion is inserted into the resulting crack. On the cuttings in the lower part, two oblique slices are preliminarily made. On a branch of large diameter, 2 or more cuttings can be grafted. The main thing is that the cambial layers of the scion and stock are combined at least on one side.
Vaccination in a split is considered one of the simplest and is recommended for beginner gardeners
How to wind a vaccination on an apple tree
As a binding material for vaccinations, gardeners use different materials: electrical tape, strips of polyethylene, vaccination tape, twine. However, cotton is considered the best material, the pieces of which are impregnated with melted garden var. Such a winding is suitable for the inner layer, but old bandages can be used outside. Regarding garden var, it is best to use a substance containing rosin.
As a material for wrapping vaccines, many use electrical tape, plastic film or a special tape
Some gardeners use nails to fix the cuttings, but it is better not to use them, as additional damage is caused to the tree and survival rate worsens.
What trees can I plant an apple tree on
Having familiarized yourself with the methods of vaccination, it is worth considering the cultures on which you can plant an apple tree, which in some cases can be quite relevant.
On the pear
The general rule of vaccination is the following: closely related cultures are characterized by good intergrowth, i.e., the apple tree is best established on the apple than on the same pear or other trees. At the same time, many gardeners quite successfully plant an apple tree on a pear, and in different ways (in a split, per bark).
Video: grafting apple on a pear
On the mountain ash
Despite the fact that the apple tree does not always take root on the mountain ash, many continue to practice and even improve this method. And there is a logical explanation for this, as mountain ash has the following characteristics:
- frost resistance;
- unpretentiousness to soils;
- the quality of the fruit does not deteriorate.
In addition, it is possible to get an earlier and more abundant crop, because mountain ash is used as a weak stock. Since it ripens in early September, the apple varieties must also be selected accordingly. You can, for example, instill Belfer-Chinese or Long (Chinese).
Vaccination of the apple tree on the mountain ash allows you to increase the frost resistance of the tree without loss of fruit quality
Vaccine apple tree plum
Although it is generally accepted that the pomegranate should be inoculated on the pomegranate and the stone fruit on the stone fruit, experiments indicate possible exceptions. There have been times when gardeners planted an apple tree on a plum tree due to confusion. After discovering the error, they were surprised that the vaccine had taken root and went on growing. Since the apple tree and plum belong to the family Rosaceae, similar splices take root. However, purposefully using plum as a stock is a dubious undertaking. The fact is that plum has a short lifespan compared to an apple tree. In addition, an apple shoot in thickness is usually thicker than a plum shoot, which leads to breakouts at the vaccination site. And there is no data on the harvest. Therefore, a successful vaccination is not yet an indicator of a future crop.
On cherry
Cherry also belongs to the family Rosaceae and grafting an apple tree on it is quite real. But, as with the plum, the further development of the grafted graft is quite problematic. The likelihood that the cherry will reject the vaccine is high. How long this will happen is unknown. Most likely, it will also fail to get a crop with this combination. Cherry simply cannot withstand apple branches. Cherry in this regard is even more whimsical than cherry.
On the hawthorn
Hawthorn as a stock for the apple tree is attractive because the plant is stunted. Vaccination can be done with cuttings up to 50 cm long at a height of 50-60 cm from the ground, and by autumn get a well-developed seedling. Thanks to this fusion, it is possible to accelerate the entry of the apple tree into fruiting for a year or more. The intergrowth is obtained quite durable and without any defects. A positive quality of hawthorn is the fact that the plant has a root system, which is located closer to the surface of the earth. Therefore, it can be used for planting fruit trees in areas with a high level of groundwater.
Video: hawthorn vaccination
To the irga
Irga is known as a dwarf stock, on which you can plant apples and pears. For continued growth, vaccination is best done at a height of 15-20 cm from the ground. If the splicing site is higher, it must be borne in mind that the berry has flexible and thin branches. Cultures will develop unevenly. In addition, under the apple branches, it will be necessary to substitute props to avoid breaking.
Irga is used as a dwarf stock for grafting apple and pear
To quince
An apple tree can be grafted on quince only as an experiment, since the likelihood that the stalk will take root well and begin to bear fruit is not very high. In most cases, after 3-5 years, the vaccinated part simply dies.
On a birch
Sometimes you can hear information about grafting an apple tree on a birch. The result of such a crossing will most likely be negative, although I.V. Michurin himself succeeded. In this case, it is worth considering whether such a vaccination is needed even as an experiment. After all, a birch is a tall tree and it will be very difficult to get fruits, if any,.
On viburnum
Despite the fact that the guelder-rose stock gives the apple tree winter hardiness, the fruits may become smaller.
Video: grafting apple tree cuttings on viburnum
On aspen
The combination of an apple tree with aspen, bird cherry and sea buckthorn can be done only for the purpose of the experiment. If the cuttings take root, then their viability will be low and you can not count on any result.
Features of vaccination in different areas of cultivation
Features of vaccination of apple trees in different regions are reduced, as a rule, to the timing of the operation. So, in the south of Russia the vegetative period is longer than in the middle lane. Work can be started earlier - back in early March. Splicing in the autumn period can be carried out almost until the beginning of November.
In the south of the country, return frosts for the scion can be much more dangerous than in the north, due to higher humidity.
The second stage of sap flow occurs in early July and lasts about a month. However, it is worth remembering and considering that the hot and dry weather, which is inherent in the south, is not recommended for vaccination procedures.
In the middle lane, spring vaccinations are carried out from late April to early May. If the operation is performed in the summer, then it is better to carry out it in late July. Since the movement of juices ceases already in mid-September, autumn crossbreeding should be done in a timely manner.
As for Siberia and the Urals, in these regions the reference point for spring vaccination is the state of the soil. If it can be dug up on a pair of bayonet shovels, then this serves as a guideline for the beginning of sap flow in apple trees. Summer vaccinations are performed in early August. Since winter begins quite early in these regions, autumn cleavages become impossible. However, winter time for the procedure is considered ideal.
After reading the step-by-step instructions, both experienced and amateur gardeners will be able to vaccinate apple trees. Thanks to this process, it is possible not only to preserve rare and develop new varieties, but also to treat trees and adjust the quality of fruits.
