How to Graft an Apple Tree in Summer: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Grafting apple trees is a complex but important agricultural technique for their restoration. It is essential to carefully time the procedure and strictly follow all rules and recommendations.

Deadlines

Apple tree grafting can be done almost year-round. There are numerous recommendations on how to perform this gardening task. However, grafting performed in the summer yields the most successful results. Beforehand, assess your climate zone, weather conditions, and the condition of the tree itself. Only then should you decide on the timing of the procedure.

Grafting an apple tree in summer

Summer grafting is essential if the tree has begun to bear fruit poorly, or if there is a need to replace older varieties with younger, more productive ones. You can also experiment with growing several different varieties on a single rootstock, or if you have limited space and want to produce fruit with a wide variety of flavors.

Methods

There are several proven methods for grafting fruit trees. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

By bud and cuttings

The green cuttings grafting method is much less common than others, as the work is close to precision, and not all experienced gardeners can perform it without errors. It is accomplished by implanting a young shoot into cut tree or under its bark. At the same time, it is necessary to carry out preliminary cuttings.

Into the cleft

This grafting method is ideal for the summer season, as this is when sap flow is at its most active. It is popular among both experienced and novice gardeners. A shallow cleft is made in the rootstock, into which the young graft is inserted vertically with its sharp edge. cuttingAt the end of the procedure, the vaccination is recorded.

Budding

Another summer method of grafting is buddingGardeners of any skill level can easily implement it. The simplicity of the procedure ensures its 100% success. It is performed in the second half of July - early AugustThe method is called budding a dormant bud, because the bud takes root during work, but is not allowed to germinate.

With grafting shears

The use of grafting shears is becoming increasingly popular as an agronomic technique. This method allows:

• reduce the duration of the operation;
• increase its reliability;
• Correctly compact the grafting site.

Buy pruning shears only from specialized stores. This will ensure the tool performs well. These tools allow you to graft branches from 4 to 13 mm. V-shaped pruning shears will also allow you to graft. into the cleft and for the bark.

By bridge

Bridge grafting is a method used to save apple trees damaged by mechanical injury. It allows for quick and effective sap control in damaged areas of the bark.

For the bark

If you want to graft several varieties onto an old apple tree at once, this method will help. This way, you can save your beloved plant from destruction. The procedure is as follows:

• make it even saw cut old trunk;
• several cuts are made perpendicular to the ground surface along the bark down to the wood;
• in their place, the coating is peeled off from the central part;
• oblique cuts are made on the cuttings;
• the scions are inserted into the prepared holes;
• secure the entire area with twine.

In the cut

Another name for this method is copulation. It requires two branches of identical diameter. They are joined together and tightly wrapped with electrical tape. This creates a separate fruiting branch of a different variety.

Rootstock characteristics

Besides its direct relatives, the best rootstocks for apple trees include hawthorn, chokeberry, quince, viburnum, and pear. However, the most suitable rootstock is wild apple, as this symbiosis offers the advantage of combining a variety of characteristics.

On a mature apple tree

If you decide to graft a mature apple tree, try to avoid planting more than five varieties on a single tree. Try to select them based on ripening time to avoid confusion. Place the grafts on skeletal branches. Tall varieties should be placed on the north side of the tree's crown. Keep in mind that grafts on horizontal branches have a much harder time taking root.

On the wild side

There are several different methods for grafting an apple tree onto a wilding stock in the summer. Each method will yield its own fruit; you just need to choose the one that's most suitable for your specific needs. Experienced gardeners recommend budding. It's done as follows:

1. We prepare a longitudinal cut in the rootstock branch in the shape of the letter T. Its depth should be no more than 1.5 cm.
2. We cut off a bud ready to bloom from the scion.
3. The processed material is installed vertically into the cut, covering the exposed areas of the trunk.

On the pear

In summer, apple trees can only be grafted onto pear trees using buds, as well as onto wildings. This process is best carried out from mid-June to the 20th of August. Even if the bud fails to take, the base will not be damaged, and repeated attempts can be made.

By grafting an apple tree onto a pear tree, you can simultaneously solve the following problems:

• reduce the ripening period of the first harvest;
• increase the endurance of both crops;
• rejuvenate the garden.

Peculiarities in different regions

Russia is generously blessed with a vast array of climate zones. Each has its own timeframe for agricultural practices. This also applies to grafting procedures:

• V SiberiaIn Karelia and the Urals, summer vaccination is carried out in the first week of August;
• in the southern regions the process should take place from the second half of July until mid-August;
• In the middle zone, it is better to graft apple trees from July 25 to August 5.

In any region, special attention should be paid to weather conditions, as they have a major impact on the effectiveness and speed of healing of the graft.

How to tell if a tree is ready for grafting

When performing summer grafting, it's important not only to adhere to the timing but also to consider the tree's readiness for the procedure. Several characteristic signs should be noted:

• green shoots have stopped growing;
• axillary buds are ripe;
• a significant distance has formed between the buds on the cuttings;
• The degree of adhesion of the bark was established at the average mark.

Necessary tools and materials

Summer budding of apple trees requires the use of a specific set of tools and materials. These include:

• sharp knife;
• pruning shears;
• saw;
• insulating tape;
• twine;
• garden var;
• oil paint;
• gloves;
• chalk.

Conclusion and useful tips

Grafting can give a second life to absolutely any tree. Not only will it produce a new variety of fruit, but it will also retain its varietal characteristics. To achieve excellent results, follow these steps:

• correctly select the timing of agricultural activities individually for each variety;
• use measuring devices to create correct cuts and notches;
• Avoid grafting a tree that is not ready for the procedure, so as not to destroy it.

The skill of grafting new apple tree branches onto old trees takes years to develop. Therefore, newbies shouldn't despair if something doesn't work out the first time.