Yes, it’s a cleft-making tool when cleft grafting.
For keeping the split open.
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I have an old ornamental cherry I’d like to bark graft some scions onto.
How big a trunk diameter is too big?
How close together can scions be? Is there a good rule of thumb?
Thanks
Over the past few years … since I started grafting… I have slowly moved away from attempting grafts to larger trees where the tree is whacked off at 3 or 4 ft and the diameter is more than an inch or two.
That first mulberry graft I did was a great success… but that flat still has not completely healed over. I still have the tree supported because of this.
I attempted 5 or 6 persimmon bark grafts to larger trees 3 4 5 inch diameter… and only one of those remain today… it was done 3 years ago and that large cut off flat still has not healed over and I am still maintaining support for the graft.
I would much rather graft to rootstock 1/2 inch to 1/4 inch diameter. The graft union heals quickly and only needs support for a short time.
Modified cleft works great with 1/2 inch rootstock and 1/4 inch scion. Or if the diameter of your rootstock and scion match … whip and tounge is ideal.
Very high success rates with those.
Very low success rates with bark grafts to 3 4 5 inch trees.
The last two springs… I have done ZERO bark grafts to 2 3 4 5 inch trees.
TNHunter
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- I am not familiar with grafting sweet cherry to Prunus serrulata; check the compatibility; there is one reference here on this forum: https://growingfruit.org/t/rootstock-graft-compatibility/14605/25?u=no07
- I don’t recommend bark graft for cheries at all, and my opinion is - it is too late. According to “my school” and practice, graft cherry as early as possible.
- suggestion for too big/too old rootstock - you don’t have to graft onto a trunk, don’t stump it anyway; cut some branches and let the new shoots grow, and graft the shoots next year
- I highly recommend watching Ken Coates videos about cherry grafting
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Super helpful perspective. Thank you.