Graft tagging?

[Derek Reese 29]

Going to be really jumping into grafting my pruned branches and some that I ordered onto other trees this year (not going for the rootstock grafting yet, am I don’t have that kinda time). How do you all tag your grafted branches so you remember what they are or do you just keep it in your notes. My biggest worry is forgetting where or when or what I grafted then pruning it later (I know I should be able to tell if a branch was grafted but I’m still new at this). I was thinking a smaller version of my flashing tags that I put on tree my tree cages but am definitely open to other suggestions thanks!

 

[Native Hunter]

I'm getting ready to try something new.

A local newspaper sells big sheets of very thin aluminum that are used somehow in their printing process. The price is ridiculously cheap - like a dollar for a sheet bigger than 2 feet by 2 feet. They can easily be cut and shaped into tags. I'm going to write the information on the tags with a black sharpie. After that dries, I will smear a thin coat of clear silicone (like Shoe Goo) over the writing. This will protect the ink from the weather but still allow me to read the tag information. I don't see why this shouldn't last indefinitely, and the process of making the tag will be super easy.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

Here is what I have been using for a couple of years: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MVJP1NY?ie=UTF8&th=1

I use an engraver for writing and then go over the engraved portion with a paint pen.

I have also been using these on some of the same trees for redundancy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RPG2LB4?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am not sure which will hold up better over time. The plastic tree tags are definitely faster and easier to distinguish, I just don't know how long they will last.

I would recommend against using just a plain sharpie for writing. It will eventually break down from UV or other elements. This is what I use now. Sharpie does make a UV resistant marking pen. There are also engineering markers out there that are even better, but you are probably looking at $25 a piece for those.

 

[cavey]

Here is what I have been using for a couple of years: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MVJP1NY?ie=UTF8&th=1

I use an engraver for writing and then go over the engraved portion with a paint pen.

I have also been using these on some of the same trees for redundancy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RPG2LB4?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am not sure which will hold up better over time. The plastic tree tags are definitely faster and easier to distinguish, I just don't know how long they will last.

I would recommend against using just a plain sharpie for writing. It will eventually break down from UV or other elements. This is what I use now. Sharpie does make a UV resistant marking pen. There are also engineering markers out there that are even better, but you are probably looking at $25 a piece for those.

Question for you, are they solid aluminum tags or cardboard wrapped with aluminum foil tags? - saw that you were using an engraver

 

[cavey]

Question for you, are they solid aluminum tags or cardboard wrapped with aluminum foil tags? - saw that you were using an engraver

Sorry I answered my own question - watched the video. They are foil wrapped around cardboard. I use these too and while they are some of the better tags out there they are far from permanent - in time rodents or coons can chew them up and the wind can in time tear the wire holes.

Like I said they are good but I am going to replace all of them with aluminum flashing cut into tag sized squares. I have found flashing that I can scribe onto. This is simply due to the loss of a number tags from issues like mentioned. Nothing worse than losing the ID to a tree - back up mapping helps. I even thought of diy cement flat pavers with the names written into the cement laid on the ground next to the trunk.

 

[cavey]

Sorry I answered my own question - watched the video. They are foil wrapped around cardboard. I use these too and while they are some of the better tags out there they are far from permanent - in time rodents or coons can chew them up and the wind can in time tear the wire holes.

Like I said they are good but I am going to replace all of them with aluminum flashing cut into tag sized squares. I have found flashing that I can scribe onto. This is simply due to the loss of a number tags from issues like mentioned. Nothing worse than losing the ID to a tree - back up mapping helps. I even thought of diy cement flat pavers with the names written into the cement laid on the ground next to the trunk.

ya and plastic is not the answer either - been there done that - I have a roll of a thousand plus plastic tags left- they work great for about 6 months then any writing on them fades off, they in time become brittle but usually not before they girth what ever they are wrapped around.
I made the mistake of using the tags for new pants/grafts figuring by the end of summer I would replace them - even with the best inks they often fade leaving you guessing.

Those that have moved onto solid metal tags I think have had the best long term luck.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

Sorry I answered my own question - watched the video. They are foil wrapped around cardboard. I use these too and while they are some of the better tags out there they are far from permanent - in time rodents or coons can chew them up and the wind can in time tear the wire holes.

Like I said they are good but I am going to replace all of them with aluminum flashing cut into tag sized squares. I have found flashing that I can scribe onto. This is simply due to the loss of a number tags from issues like mentioned. Nothing worse than losing the ID to a tree - back up mapping helps. I even thought of diy cement flat pavers with the names written into the cement laid on the ground next to the trunk.

They are solid aluminum.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

ya and plastic is not the answer either - been there done that - I have a roll of a thousand plus plastic tags left- they work great for about 6 months then any writing on them fades off, they in time become brittle but usually not before they girth what ever they are wrapped around.
I made the mistake of using the tags for new pants/grafts figuring by the end of summer I would replace them - even with the best inks they often fade leaving you guessing.

Those that have moved onto solid metal tags I think have had the best long term luck.

I think the ink that you use really matters on the plastic. I asked a few apple breeders what they use and they use similar plastic tags for about five years, and then shift over to the aluminum tags when they have a tree make it through its first several leaves. They use a lazer printer to print the labels on the tags and it holds up for several years. What gets to be a pain is having to move the plastic tag around because of the girdling like you mentioned.

I don't like using the aluminum tags until a tree is in the ground for a few years because of the time involved with the engraving. In that time, it is much easier to use the plastic tags. You also get the added bonus of being able to color-code them.

 

[bigboreblr]

Get some laundry permanent markers. Write right on the tree. Also, one line is this, 2 lines is that, etc. IF you cant read the writing then the lines can tell you. Write somewhere what tree and south, north, high, low. Every tree I have one of has a grafted branch somewhere else. Sometimes steal some right off a bareroot I ordered.

I do it for survival of the variety, not so much frankentrees. Although I am out of room at home pretty soon.

Also, if I want more trees the next year, I got 2 places to get it from.

Home is pretty well set, but at camp will be a battle with loggers. I can see myself grafting some bareroots once or twice after a logging. They seem to hit good once every 5 years is a section, and some year grab a spot or two while they're logging the neighbors places.

Some varieties might take better to certain trees, so don't give up right away. Also, wait until the tree is waking up to graft, not necesarily when you get the scion. See mouse ears out of the buds. You can graft almost anytime its not too hot. late summer grafting is not that rare.

 

[Bill]

You can cut beer cans for tags and write on them with a ball point pen. The pen ink doesn’t stick but it indents the thin aluminum forever.

 

[bigboreblr]

my trees themselves, I carve the name in a piece of trex decking and use stainless steel wire. Hoping the apple trees are around after I'm not. A little joy to the next motley cew's at camp. Hunting near apple trees gives ya a little hope in a very low density area.

 

[Bluestone]

You can try pencil on a small cut piece of vinyl siding. Been holding up for several years for me.

 

[cavey]

View attachment 73578


They are solid aluminum.

cool, I just ordered a 120 set. If they are solid like you show then there going to be better. I hope their not mixing there product tags and that the video is from older style tags and the ones I get are like yours.

The fronts looked different from what I have had before but when I clicked on the video from the link - these with the rolled crimped backs that they showed are identical to the paper/cardboard wrapped ones I use. The have a flat surface on the front.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

cool, I just ordered a 120 set. If they are solid like you show then there going to be better. I hope their not mixing there product tags and that the video is from older style tags and the ones I get are like yours.

The fronts looked different from what I have had before but when I clicked on the video from the link - these with the rolled crimped backs that they showed are identical to the paper/cardboard wrapped ones I use. The have a flat surface on the front.
View attachment 73603

I have ordered two different sets (120 and 200 counts) from that same link and the quality has been identical. I think you should be good.

 

[TreeDaddy]

Here is what I have been using for a couple of years: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MVJP1NY?ie=UTF8&th=1

I use an engraver for writing and then go over the engraved portion with a paint pen.

I have also been using these on some of the same trees for redundancy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RPG2LB4?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am not sure which will hold up better over time. The plastic tree tags are definitely faster and easier to distinguish, I just don't know how long they will last.

I would recommend against using just a plain sharpie for writing. It will eventually break down from UV or other elements. This is what I use now. Sharpie does make a UV resistant marking pen. There are also engineering markers out there that are even better, but you are probably looking at $25 a piece for those.

Good info

Labeling the aluminum tags is not particularly easy using screwdriver tips,etc

The engraver seems a better option

bill

 

[cavey]

I think the ink that you use really matters on the plastic. I asked a few apple breeders what they use and they use similar plastic tags for about five years, and then shift over to the aluminum tags when they have a tree make it through its first several leaves. They use a lazer printer to print the labels on the tags and it holds up for several years. What gets to be a pain is having to move the plastic tag around because of the girdling like you mentioned.

I don't like using the aluminum tags until a tree is in the ground for a few years because of the time involved with the engraving. In that time, it is much easier to use the plastic tags. You also get the added bonus of being able to color-code them.

My same thoughts on the use of tags, I started with ribbon tape with good markers then went to temp plastic tags then went with the aluminum foil tags then onto better permanent metal labels. I just got burnt by bad plastic imported tags (ordered a huge roll of thousands of tags) that faded and even with really good garden markers sometimes the tags themselves shed the marker ink so I went with the aluminum foil tags which work great but have had them chewed up and or ripped off.

The foil tags I can use x2 - scratch off the old name flip over then write/press a new on the back unused side so thats not to bad.

Like you its a pain to use the better stuff right away due to engraving or having to cut and punch metal squares. Just sucks to have unknown grafted trees in the nursery. Even worse to lose track of a tree thats been planted do to a damage/faded or lost tag. Mapping helps but when your out walking and just walk up to a tree and no tag/damaged or faded,,,, its frustrating...

If you dont have a lot of trees I would encourage people to one and done it with aluminum squares

 

[cavey]

When I first started grafting I would label the grafted trees with a ribbon strip with marker and then after mid summer if they survived I would switch to the aluminum tags ... aften that might get delayed and I had issues with faded markers ... so I went to the best outdoor garden markers I could find. Still had issues. So I bought bulk tags - that was a mistake as they are cheap and the pink would fade - wish I had just found white ones may have made a difference.
Switched up to the common aluminum tags - they emboss easily with a pen and have been fairly durable - but are aluminum foil around paperboard. - they have been damaged by critters and ripped off the trees by them and or maybe wind.
Started switching to cutting up aluminum flashing rolls - cheap stuff from menards and that works but you have to take the time to cut and punch holes.


Credit to Hoytvectrix on these:

They are as indicated: solid aluminum, about the same as a can in thickness maybe more and the wire they come with is better than the stuff I get with the foil wrapped ones. Only con is they are a bit harder to emboss - I used a pen in the pic with the two for comparison.

They are the best tags I have come cross so far... Thanks Hoytvectrix I got these in this am from amazon and I like them. I will order some more.

I still want to come up with something that will be by the tree for its life that wont be an issues with weeds or mowing or girthing the tree long term. I dont really want to nail something to the tree or have a post by it. The only thing I have come up with is a square of concrete with the tree name scribed into the cement and just laid at the base of the tree. But.... I have a lot of trees too.


anyways.... these are good tags https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RPG2LB4?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[TreeDaddy]

Here is what I have been using for a couple of years: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MVJP1NY?ie=UTF8&th=1

I use an engraver for writing and then go over the engraved portion with a paint pen.

I have also been using these on some of the same trees for redundancy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RPG2LB4?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am not sure which will hold up better over time. The plastic tree tags are definitely faster and easier to distinguish, I just don't know how long they will last.

I would recommend against using just a plain sharpie for writing. It will eventually break down from UV or other elements. This is what I use now. Sharpie does make a UV resistant marking pen. There are also engineering markers out there that are even better, but you are probably looking at $25 a piece for those.

Just ordered the engraver

14$. will give it a try

bill

 

[cavey]

I do so much labeling in the field; (wonder if there are small cordless engravers?). I think I will just use a small softwood board and rounded punch or nail/ nail punch to scribe the label. But I do like these tags a lot.


Just looked .... There are a lot of little handheld engravers - cheap

 

[b116757]

I have used trap tags, aluminum fire extinguisher tags, cheap plastic normal nursery tags but they fade and/or break with time I do not recommend the plastic tags. I’ve also had subway tiles laser engraved that I leave at the base of the trees.