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Plant Propagation

pruning off the rootstock

15 years ago

Could anyone tell me when and how much of the apple tree rootstock I should prune off. The rootstock is 43 inches tall growing vertically. The scion is 18 inches and growing kind of horizontally. It is attached to the scion a few inches from the ground. Thanks for any information.

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Comments (5)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
15 years ago
It sounds like you are growing the rootstock in competition with the graft. You need to get rid of the rootstock and make the graft the apical or highest growth which will grow vertically. Al
trailer_gal
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for answering. Where the rootstock and scion are joined the diameter is about 3/8 inch. The scion is taking a sharp turn to the right. About an inch or so below that is the rootstock, 43 inches tall and trying to grow vertically. How close to the main rootstock should I cut off the shoot heading vertically? Flush with the main rootstock, or leave a little nub? How much of a nub? What time of year is best to do this? Can I do it now? Should I put some kind of sealer on the part where I make the cut? This is the first time I have tried this and I would not want to make a mistake on it. Thanks for anymore information.
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There have been many studies, mostly by universities, about using wound sealer when pruning trees. All modern studies I've seen have shown that, except for a few isolated cases where the fresh cuts allowed disease entry before callousing, trees fared much better without this type of sealant. Although usually not mentioned by brand name, you can find numerous recommendations against using such products in the Gardenweb Tree Forum and on many arborist websites. The International Society of Arboriculture and every reputable source I'm aware of generally discourages the use of this stuff in most circumstances. Fireblight can definitely enter through fresh wounds, but I think proper sanitation of your pruning equipment would be much more beneficial than sealing the wound with Treekote. The tree will quickly callous over and prevent disease entry if pruned correctly. My opinion is that the chances of fireblight entry through the wound would be less, assuming the tree was pruned correctly and using clean tools, than the chances of problems introduced by the wound sealer.
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Pruning off rootstock
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Sorry, I posted this on the wrong forum. Will try again.
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petzold6596
15 years ago
Cut it as close to the rootstock as possible. You won't have any growth from that point in the future. Don't seal it, sealers do nothing to improve healing and/or keeping infections out of the wound. Do it now before it gets to big. It's easier when small rather than when it gets bigger.
trailer_gal
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, I will trim the rootstock back today.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
15 years ago
The graft will gradually become vertical and in five years as the caliper of the trunk increases the cut of the rootstock will disappear. Al

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