budwood

buddinman Thanks for the great posting. This afternoon I'm going out to get some apple cuttings. We still have about 3 feet of snow, but today is nice and warm, it's a steaming 21 degrees outside.

Buddinman, I was planning on swabbing the wood with alcohol and letting dry before I take the cuttings (of course the tools, too). Is this wise or are there any other tips? Barbara

What variety of apple do you have?
Andi

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't the alcohol sorta kill off the ends of the budwood? I thought they needed to be somewhat fresh to take.
Andi

Sorry I misread the post. Somehow I read it as you were putting the alcohol on AFTER the cut was made.

Andi no idea what kind of apple tree it is, just that they are good. The snow was just a bit over the top of my knee's, but I got the cuttings.

Well, I tried my hand at t-budding and bark grafting my apple tree today. This is the first time trying to bud/graft anything at all, so we will see what happens. Although I felt very clumsy, the end result did not look too bad. The bark was nice and loose and I had a good feel for cutting bark only and separating the bark from the branch. I spent more time during assembly than I was hoping for, so the scion was open to air longer than what I would have liked. Now it is a waiting game. Did anyone else try yet? Barbara

A few years back I ordered some M11 root stock for apples. I wish I knew more at the time as I do now. "Oh well live an learn"

If you feel the need to disinfect the budwood a dilute solution of chlorox can be used. It will need to be rinsed off. About 4 to 5 second is all the chlorox solution nees to contact the budwood. I do not believe that alcohol should bu used.

Chlorox dilutd 4 part water to 1 part chloros can be used to disinfect budding/grafting knives and shears. Inmerse the tool in chlorx soulution for about 5 seconds and then rinse with water followed by a spray of WD-40. the WD-40 can then be romoved with alcohol.

Bonnie, I feel that one of my reasons for failure in the past was not rinsing the tools after the disinfect.

I also read, but never tried. Using products such as Dip n Grow for Cleft Grafting also helps. Any thoughts.