Best Month to graft

[TonySoprano]

I'm planning on top working a pear tree this year. I'm in Virginia zone 7. I've never tried grafting before.
Typically by March 15 th in town the white pear tree blossoms are out, depending on the weather sometimes a few days earlier.

I did a online search that says March - April are the best times to graft. But it doesn't give detailed information.

Would I want to graft in the first week of March when still dormant , or wait for the 15th or after when the trees start blossoming and budding out ?

 

[TreeDaddy]

When persimmon trees get the little mouse ear leave sizin', the sap be risin'

Usually mid April in east texas

bill

 

[BrushyPines]

When persimmon trees get the little mouse ear leave sizin', the sap be risin'

Usually mid April in east texas

bill

Usually early to mid May here! I figured we'd be around the same "wake up" time!

 

[g squared 23]

Pears wake up earlier than apples for me. You want the tree waking up, leaves just starting to open, buds just starting to break. But up until petal drop is fine.


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[TonySoprano]

Pears wake up earlier than apples for me. You want the tree waking up, leaves just starting to open, buds just starting to break. But up until petal drop is fine.


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Thank you , that's exacty the information I was looking for ! . Would you say cut the tree down the DAY I plan to top work it ? Or cut it down the first week of March , if the grafting would take place in the next 3 to 4 weeks at the most ?

Should the Scion be cut late Feb to first week of March before it wakes up , and kept in the refrigerator ?

Thanks again....this will be my first time attempting grafting.....so I really don't know much. I will watch some youtube videos this month to get a feel for it.

 

[TonySoprano]

When to Take Fruit Tree Cuttings: The Best Time to Collect and Store Scion Wood | Orchard People

If you want to graft fruit trees, you need fruit tree cuttings. Learn the best time to take fruit tree cuttings and how to store them to keep them safe unti ...

orchardpeople.com

 

[Barndog56]

Any branches or trunks I'm going to graft to, get cut back when I prune everything. I leave a few inches past where I'll be cutting it to graft. When the sap starts flowing I don't want a lot of it flowing into branches that will be removed at grafting.

 

[TreeDaddy]

Usually early to mid May here! I figured we'd be around the same "wake up" time!

I re checked my notes to be sure

I grafted persimmon and pear on April 12 last year

we will see what this year holds for comparison


bill