Just a single vertical cut is all that is needed. How could the tape resist expansion of the scion if the ring is broken? I’ve used it on scions where girdling has already begun and it stops it and the scion fully recovers. That is when I use the cutting method. The trick is making sure you’ve cut completely through the tape. You don’t know that until you’ve cut into the scion, from which it will heal.
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I was speaking only about removing the tape using several cuts to remove the tape in sections that makes it easier to pull each section upward
Is there a reason to remove the tape if it isn’t girdling the scion?
After the graft has healed. If I leave electrical tape on bark grafts too long the bark deteriorates under the tape. Medical issues kept me out of orchard last two Fall seasons when I’d normally cut off tape so had some bark issues. Apple bark grafts I leave taped about 6 months; pawpaws at least a year.
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Ah, that makes perfect sense. I don’t do bark grafts, so what do I know?
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I was new to grafting last year so take my way with a grain of salt. I do whip and tongue or cleft grafts. I wrap the graft point and the rest of the Scion in parafilm and then wrap the graft point in Temflex. I went through in the fall and did a vertical slice through the Temflex and it came right off with the parafilm with no damage to the bark.
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Did you use the Temflex that self fuses (doesn’t have glue)? Was the Temflex degraded in any way? Do you think if you left it alone without cutting it would be fine?
Ya I used the Temflex that was self fusing. I did notice a little degrading, but I think if left, it would girdle.
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This makes me more comfortable using electrical tape (1:30). According to their experience, the tape stretches and falls off when the tree grows and doesn’t girdle. I’m not so convinced that’s the case with all electrical tape. I was also a bit overzealous and wrapped the tape many times over which will probably restrict growth. I do like the tip about red tape!
As @alan suggested I made a single vertical cut in the electric tape I used for grafting earlier this year. It peeled back reasonably well with minimal bark damage and I didn’t feel that I had to completely remove the tape.
Overall, I had equal success in terms of graft take with grafts where I just used parafilm and folded it in half or thirds for extra strength around the graft union. The parafilm doesn’t need to be removed or cut so I think I’ll just do this from now on.
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The vertical cut is all that is needed- that in itself prevents any girdling efffect as the tape gradually peels away by itself. I assume you are not using a simple splice graft if you are choosing to use parafilm to hold the grafts. I spend about 3 full days grafing trees a year, if I didn’t use a splice, it would require at least another couple of days to perform the same number of grafts. This is my busiest time of the year.
There is a certain level of skill involved, even with a splice, where holding the two pieces together and the tape with one hand while taping with the other is a bit awkward. It may not be so suited for larger hands, but for me, it is, by far, the most practical approach and the easiest way to line up cambium. It creates a strong union not likely to be knocked out of alignment during the healing process.
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I don’t do splice grafts since the branches I’m grafting onto in the field are usually mismatched with scion diameter. Vinyl tape was easy to use and easy to cut afterwards but I’d rather just avoid that extra step of having to come back to cut. I peeled back the vinyl a little after cutting to ensure that I had made that vertical cut all the way through.
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