Bridge Grafting

[NY_Terrence]

Well fellas... On the other thread, I posted about a recent experience where I drove two hours to help a friend prune 20 apple trees. When we arrived, I saw that he put tubes around all the trees (insert Home Alone face here) and the mice ate/girdled around 18" on 11 out of 20 trees.

After thinking about it for a few days, I think I want to try bridge grafting to save some or all of the trees. Why not, right?

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/bridge_grafting_as_a_life_saving_procedure_for_trees

I'm curious to know if anyone has experience with bridge grafting? Tips?

 

[Turkey Creek]

Might work, but with the trees being completely girdled I would say the odds are very low. Bridge grafts are generally used with trees that have at least some cambium contact remaining over a portion of the trunk. I dont think the bridge graft is going to have enough flow to support the tops of those trees.