Air pruning..

[buckvelvet]

Ok im seeing some crazy stuff on some other forums.

Anyone seen this. They cut the bark off a good branch, put a hormone on it, put a pot around it and fill it with dirt and tape it all up.

Theory is they then cut the branch off the tree later that year or the following spring and plant it.

Wallah a pear or apple tree with a strong caliper next year to plant of that variety.

Is this legit?


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[woodduck]

I seen that a while back too. I think they call those pots, Air Layering Pots, but that's all the more I know about it..... seems like a pretty cool thing though.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Yea its air layering never tried it. I have read that a heavy ziplock bag taped on the ends will accomplish the same thing.

 

[buckvelvet]

But doesn't it grow just the variety of tree it is. Who knows what kind of stature it'll have if it does root, right? As its just the characteristics of the variety, not the root stock it was originally put on.

 

[Native Hunter]

But doesn't it grow just the variety of tree it is. Who knows what kind of stature it'll have if it does root, right? As its just the characteristics of the variety, not the root stock it was originally put on.

What you will end up with is a full sized tree on its own roots. It would be the same things as sprouting an apple tree from a cutting. The structure will be like the original tree when it was grown from a seed.

I have some of the pots but haven't used them yet. I'm waiting until next spring.

I've ground layered a lot of different plants. Just bend a low limb over and cover it with dirt. The limb will eventually root. You cut it off and have a new plant. This is the primary method used to propagate blight immune hazelnut bushes. You grow hazelnuts from seed and when you get a good one that has the characteristics you are looking for, you clone it via layering.

Air layering is the same thing except that you put the dirt in a container.

 

[buckvelvet]

I understand, but isn't an apple or pear a totally different animal then hazelnut. Since they don't grow true to seed for the most part. It seems like it would be very low percentage success rate to get the apple branch to actually root?

 

[chickenlittle]

It seems like it would be very low percentage success rate to get the apple branch to actually root?

That is why they will sell you the pots:). Some species or varieties can be rooted easily from cuttings. For those that won't, layering or air layering is another option to clone without grafting. Primary way that apple rootstock is cloned is by layering in stoolbeds. Layering is just another tool in the tool box to play with.

 

[Native Hunter]

I understand, but isn't an apple or pear a totally different animal then hazelnut. Since they don't grow true to seed for the most part. It seems like it would be very low percentage success rate to get the apple branch to actually root?

Actually a hazelnut doesn't grow true to seed either. Just because the parents are blight resistant doesn't mean that the offspring grown from seed will be. That's why they clone them - in order to get the exact traits as the parents. I have apple trees in my yard that are healthy and been growing all summer that I started this spring from root suckers - this is where a sprout came up from a tree grown on its own roots. You cut off the sprout with a small piece of root and grow a new tree that is a clone of the parent.

I think that air layering will prove to be an easy way to start apples and pears. But, as stated before - I want to wait until next spring - just because I don't have time right now, and I think the success will be better then. I'm actually expecting 100% success.

Contrary to what a lot of people think, mountain people of olden days started apples and pears from root cutting very successfully all the time. Most were unlearned in grafting. My father in law has several apple trees in his yard that he started this way, and they have been growing for years. He also has a pear in his yard right now that he started from a heel cutting this spring, and it is alive and well despite temps near 100 degrees. I looked at it just a few days ago, and it is fine.

Air layering is really no different than ground layering. Both will work just fine.

 

[buckvelvet]

Well hey, ya learn something new everyday!

I do wonder about what the actual variety would do on its own legs compared to a known cold hardy rootsock.

I really look forward to seeing everyones trials with this idea.