Nice work! Going to be a winner for sure!I got some day light now for a slightly better picture. I'm starting to do more and more thread grafts since last year. I wish I had a few more babies to thread graft the mother tree of the airlayer I used on this tree.
Hopefully I'll do a good job with these latest thread grafts. I'm nervous about wire biting into my maples. They can grow so fast sometimes. I think my method was pretty good though.
1) I decided where I wanted branches.
2) I prepared the babies for easy handling
3) I determined which ones are good matches for where I'm grafting based on their thickness or pliability.
4) I prepared the babies for threading by wrapping the branches with a product called Parafilm to protect the buds and secondary branches.
5) Drilled holes using small bit and going up to as large as needed. When I use larger bit, I drill not completely through but in from either side. Check to make sure the holes are clear of debris. Have all holes ready. You dont want to break your grafts while drilling more holes.
6) Thread the babies through starting with what will be the branches at the bottom to top.
7) sealed holes.
8) I think removing the parafilm is optional. I'm selectively OCD so I removed it fairly easily.
9) Wire new branches.
Dang that sounds like a lot of work I did there. Glad I didn't make a list or else I might change my mind about the doing the work
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I wont know if it's a winner until I get closer to the finish line .Nice work! Going to be a winner for sure!
I was trying the same thing with the parafilm on thread grafts last week but I gave up. It just kept bunching up and getting stuck in the middle of the tree. Seems like its easier to apply the parafilm if you stretch it first. I ended up just wrapping some thin wire around the end of the graft an pull it through.
Thanks for the details. Yes definitely will get easier with practice.I wont know if it's a winner until I get closer to the finish line .
Yes, I stretch out the film first. Wrap by holding the baby tree and securing an end of the film with one hand while rotating. With other hand keep tension as you wrap it up. Once threaded through, you can unwrap simply by grabbing the end at the tip and carefully pulling it away. May take some practice and adapt as needed. It works like magic sort of like when you open a rice bag without a blade . I have had a lot less snagging when I wrap the branch well. Makes holes slightly larger than needed and make sure clear of debris. Plug hole with tooth pick and cut to size or a piece of a branch and seal the holes.
I like this tree. Feels great when things look like they're coming together. More and more leaves opening up. The early spring color is going to look hot. It's nice to look at every morning.
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I use anything around and in this case it is floral wire from who knows how many decades ago . It's gotten the job done, so I keep using it.Thanks for sharing your work. What is that green wire you are using?
spring growth
He's in Texas, lol.