Bad Nebari on cheap nursery stock Alberta Spruce

[BoondoxUtah]

I purchased a cheap dwarf Alberta Spruce at Home depot. It has a nice twin trunk, but the graft has created a reverse taper near the base. Has anyone had success approach grafting to create a new root system on spruce (searches n the forum found nothing). What about a true root graft? Any thoughts?

 

[caffeinated]

might not be getting much response since, typically, you'd root graft to improve an already halfway decent nebari. You generally wouldn't go through all the effort it would take to build a nebari for a cheap, grafted, reversed taper tree as the starting point. That's probably a lot more work than it's worth for the return on investment. But only you know whether your tree would be worth the work. (I have no idea on how spruce's take grafting, sorry)

 

[Shibui]

Is the tree grafted? I thought DAS was normally grown as cuttings.

It is possible to graft roots on DAS if you want to give it a go. Roots can be direct grafted or approach grafted. For approach graft you'll need some more DAS. I don't think thread grafts would be good because it will be hard to thread a spruce shoot through a small hole.

Consider layering as a way to replace the roots. I root them as cuttings which means layering is possible.

 

[BoondoxUtah]

So if taking the layering approach, should I just wrap the area in sphagnum and keep it moist, or should I use regular technique and remove the cambium and then wrap. Since the item was so cheap, I am willing to experiment and work on technique.

 

[Shibui]

So if taking the layering approach, should I just wrap the area in sphagnum and keep it moist, or should I use regular technique and remove the cambium and then wrap. Since the item was so cheap, I am willing to experiment and work on technique.

Removing a ring of bark is my preferred method. Some species will root at the first opportunity, others take more convincing. I'm not sure where DAS sits on the rootability spectrum.
Given the tree is not so valuable I would go with ringbark. That seems to give much more reliable results. Sphagnum and crossed fingers may not be enough.

 

[BoondoxUtah]

Thanks! I am on it.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Really? A grafted DAS? Any pics?

 

[BoondoxUtah]

I could be wrong--I'll post pics soon.

 

[BoondoxUtah]

Not a ton of experience but isn't this a graft? I removed some soil to show the area better.

 

[Shibui]

Pretty confident that's just remnants of the callus on the original cutting.
A graft would normally be higher up the trunk and will usually have some vertical scar remaining from wedge or whip graft.

 

[BoondoxUtah]

Well-whatever it is it's pretty ugly! Gonna give it a go.

Thanks!