Repurposing mature trees

[Derek Reese 29]

I admit it, I might have a grafting problem. My thought is to cut the Bradford pear (picture 1) and some other indeterminate species of pear (picture 2 and 3) which doesn’t produce well and has been stunted by a monster poison ivy vine) off at about chest level so they start throwing water sprouts like crazy. Then next spring, I prune my existing pears pretty hard and order a couple dozen scions and boom I have my very own Franken-trees right here in my front yard..any thoughts on timing or advice? Might this work? I did cut off one of the trunks of the poison ivy tree this year and it threw water sprouts like mad (picture 4) so this is where this is all coming from. By cutting it kinda high (might shoot for 6’ height on the cut stump) I shouldn’t have to cage them or anything.

Bradford pear to be sacrificed

Regular pear to be sacrificed


Excess amount of shoots from tree cut this spring

 

[bigboreblr]

Poison Ivy digs into tree with their little roots on the vine. you need to remove most if not all the vine. Even the top of the vine will survive and feed on the tree.

No experience with old pears. Sad to do, but cutting down these old guys is probably the only chance to get some good fruit in their place.....

Gave about 20 trees 4 years to clean up and revive from a slow death. Death by a billion cuts of the ants teeth.

 

[Telemark]

It's worth a try. Just be aware that after you graft and cut the pear tree, it will continue to throw a lot of growth below the grafts. You will need to pluck off all the new growth to keep it pushing the grafts.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Poison Ivy digs into tree with their little roots on the vine. you need to remove most if not all the vine. Even the top of the vine will survive and feed on the tree.

No experience with old pears. Sad to do, but cutting down these old guys is probably the only chance to get some good fruit in their place.....

Gave about 20 trees 4 years to clean up and revive from a slow death. Death by a billion cuts of the ants teeth.

Thankfully we killed the poison ivy but the vine was about as big around as my wrist, so it definitely harmed the tree. Want to utilize what has to be a huge root system to help get those grafts cranking out.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

It's worth a try. Just be aware that after you graft and cut the pear tree, it will continue to throw a lot of growth below the grafts. You will need to pluck off all the new growth to keep it pushing the grafts.

Good call on that one! Should I keep some of them as like “nurse” branches or do you think it’s ok to cut them all off once I have the grafts done? I’m totally ok with cutting them all just don’t want to kill the tree.

 

[Telemark]

It's worth leaving a few nurse branches at least the first summer. Then you can remove all the nurse branches in the dormant season and be vigilant about picking off the new growth.

 

[bigboreblr]

You could make a long whip and bend it into the ground to grow new trees.

2nd look those trees are that beat up. I wouldnt cut a big piece like in the closeup. I would go higher up where that branch spreads in 3 or 4 smaller ones. Cut there and graft. Old girls can be fickle. Doen't hurt to plant a new one a few feet away. Plan A doesn't pan out, plan B already has a few years in. Plan A works, move the newer tree.