Does anyone use paint colors to identify/mark their grafts instead of tags? I’ve been using tags but I usually graft a particular scion in 4 or 5 areas to make sure one takes and I put a tag on one of the grafts. I have so many grafts on an apple tree that I have kept that I think a paint marking would make it easier to ID.
Looking at my Dave Wilson 4-1 pluot, I can clearly see that they marked each pluot with its own color to identify it. Anyone know what kind of paint that is or what kind of paint would last but still be safe to put on the tree?
Any latex based paint will work. That’s what most people use to paint the entire trunk of trees diluted somewhat. Check out the paint sample screw-ups from HD/Lowes.
We can get paint free at the county recycling center, I’d check that out too. To mark my grafts I use the quick release blue or green masking tape, it lasts 1-2 winters for me.
Yup, paint here too, the wind removes tags with some regularity. Latex paint, toll paint, the craft stuff…any water based paint.
Then, yarn, different colours tied on, lasts many years, but do check for girdling every few years. it fades a bit and may grow green stuff in this climate, so 10 years, max.
Getting and using multiple cans of paint to mark multiple fruit varieties can work, but a “better mousetrap” for me has been using looped strips of 3/4" wide, vinyl, electricians-grade tape sold at Lowe’s. It comes in long rolls inside of plastic boxes, and there are many colors. I cut strips long enough to go around the branch plus leave an extra overlap of 2-3" which can be stuck to itself glue side to glue side. A couple staples poked through the extra flap will keep it secure for a long time. When grafting multiple scion varieties on the same tree it is very easy to color code each type, and the written note that explains the color code is placed inside of the tree’s manila folder. For whatever reason, the multitude of squirrels that patrol the place have not chosen to chew on the tape. The tape will stretch as the branches thicken, but eventually it is time to replace the tape/staples with a fresh pc. A round, thickish aluminum tag will eventually go on the grafted trees after the grafts have grown out well, and the two-sided aluminum will have info including planting date, rootstock, grafting date, etc. S/s wire holds the tags on, even though black tywraps can work for a good while…I regret that I was not this interested about fruit tree data from day one.