I planted this Red Bartlet Pear last Spring and have been experimenting with grafting onto it. I’m new to graftong, so it’s inclear how many will actually suceed. So far, there are 5 grafts of 3 different European varieties. I just got scions of another variety and am wondering: Are there any precautions about over grafting a fruit tree?
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Yes, it can cause problems if it prevents you from pruning properly because you don’t want to cut out a variety. But other than that (or bringing in diseased scions) you should be completely fine even if every single twig on the tree is a different variety.
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Thanks for the reply. I’ve been soaking each scion in a water/bleach solution. Hopefully that’ll be sufficient for disease prevention. If anyone else has additional advise pls let me know.
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I have 2 jplum trees … with 7 other varieties grafted on including a couple plumcots, couple hybrids and one american.
Adding a couple grafts of AU cherry plum to them this spring.
That will be 2 trees 10 varieties.
Hopefully some year some of those will get past my late frost issue.
TNHunter
That’s plenty. Check out this thread;
people are sanitizing their scions used for grafting? ive heard people doing it or using soap for fig cuttings that they are trying to root, but its certainly not universal. i havent heard from any of the nurseries that are selling scion that they sanitize or the buyer should sanitize.
A viral infection in the scion’s cells isn’t going to be meaningfully affected by a dunking in bleach water. Could help with fungus/mold on the outside. Not a bad idea for fig cuttings although I’d do it before a fresh cut on the bottom if you’re going to do that.
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I have a couple of thoughts. The tree isn’t really vigorous enough to be a good candidate for grafting especially multiple varieties. And those grafts out on the tips of thin shoots might not grow even if the graft takes. If they do grow it won’t be enough anytime soon to get much fruit.
On that tree I would have grafted down low on the branches and then prune out some shoots of the rootstock to better force scion growth. Also push it with water and fertilizer to get more growth.
The tree looks like it’s ready to bear fruit.
Just my thoughts. I could be off base and about to be picked off.
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would you ever chip bud all over the tree to start a new structure or scaffolds and then select the ones you want from there. a reshaping and multi-varietal reboot if you will.
I’m not sure how that’s different than grafting.
well youd be removing all the current scaffolds and once the grafted buds pop and grow you could select the best placed, most vigorous ones. ive never done it but would seem like a lot more stressful than just grafting onto existing branches/scaffolds. maybe it wouldnt be that good of an idea 
I’d bud low, down near the trunk, onto the existing branches with good crotch angles. If you bud onto the trunk, you don’t know what you’ll get but often narrow crotch angles.
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