Top working advice

[Derek Reese 29]

Have an Anty tree that had a dead ash fall pretty much on top of it last summer. It knocked the top 3’ off the central leader down to height of about 3’ and hasn’t really recovered well. It has 2 limbs just below about a 2-4” nub of what used to be the central leader (kinda looks like a cross with a small top). Would this be a good tree to top work or should I cut it lower? Have a bunch of scion coming in this spring and was thinking of cutting the nub off and evening it out and bark grafting 2 Scion on the top and seeing what happens. It’s about an inch in diameter so should I only do 1 Scion and should I leave the branches? Will try to get a pic for reference..still pretty new to this grafting stuff..

 

[rocksnstumps]

Might be hard to get decent advice without a pic but will say that with a stem of only an inch or so would look at cleft grafting vs a bark graft. Basically a split in the end and using two scions.

If you do nothing but cut off one of the two branches below, the tree will still have a little mishaped trunk but probably recover ok down the road. Have several like that where tops busted out from critter damage while young. Somewhat bushier looking but still crank out fruit later.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Might be hard to get decent advice without a pic but will say that with a stem of only an inch or so would look at cleft grafting vs a bark graft. Basically a split in the end and using two scions.

If you do nothing but cut off one of the two branches below, the tree will still have a little mishaped trunk but probably recover ok down the road. Have several like that where tops busted out from critter damage while young. Somewhat bushier looking but still crank out fruit later.

Will try to run up and get a pic this weekend! Thought I had one but no luck finding it.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

My other consideration is what to graft onto it..my first thought for one of the scion is Roadkill, but from there I don’t know….if I knew they were both gonna be good grafts, I would probably do a “people apple” as my other graft choice…maybe like a Big 10 or even one from my parents or in laws super productive trees..too dang many choices haha

 

[rocksnstumps]

Unless you want a double trunk tree, most folks do multiple grafts to ensure something takes but cut off the weaker looking ones later and just keep one. Especially for a central leader. If you want a frankentree just do it on some branches that will stay mostly horizontal for the other scions

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Unless you want a double trunk tree, most folks do multiple grafts to ensure something takes but cut off the weaker looking ones later and just keep one. Especially for a central leader. If you want a frankentree just do it on some branches that will stay mostly horizontal for the other scions

Only issue with a double trunk might be cracking later on..guess I could do just 1 graft then graft onto that later but I have a ton of other trees they would need grafted before this one! I would like all my trees to eventually be Frankentrees in some capacity…

 

[Telemark]

First decide if you want it to stay Anty or if you really want it to be something else.

If you want it to stay Anty, cut the nub and one of the branches this winter. Then in May or June, when the bark is slipping, push the remaining branch upright and secure it in place.

If you want it to be something else, graft it low in Spring. Then next winter, if the scion takes and pushes new growth, cut the tree off above the graft. The problem with grafting high is the rootstock will push a lot of growth below the graft.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

The tree will eventually send a new central leader up or an existing branch will turn into one. I have much better luck topworking a branch off the tree that is the same diameter as the scion. Success for that is about 95%, but my other topworking attempts didn't go very well.

Several years ago, I planted a bunch of red splendor crabapple trees along a fenceline, but a few years later I decided that I wanted a late season deer variety instead. I topworked the central leader about 6' off the ground, and now the top half of the trees are late dropping apples for the deer and the bottom half is red splendor crabapples for the birds.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

First decide if you want it to stay Anty or if you really want it to be something else.

If you want it to stay Anty, cut the nub and one of the branches this winter. Then in May or June, when the bark is slipping, push the remaining branch upright and secure it in place.

If you want it to be something else, graft it low in Spring. Then next winter, if the scion takes and pushes new growth, cut the tree off above the graft. The problem with grafting high is the rootstock will push a lot of growth below the graft.

Really wouldn’t mind it NOT being any it was just the tree I could get at the time and after seeing faster growing and more productive trees, I would be inclined to switch

 

[bigboreblr]

Some people have favorable experience with anty. Some people have disease issues.

A bit torn what to do with my anty's at camp. Got 7 grafted on anty, 4 failed anty grafts 2 years ago, and 2 dolgo seedlings at camp so far.

Got an at risk tree, not growing so great, in a bad spot, or only 1 of a certain type you really like. That would be good on that anty. Maybe a variety not offered anymore. Got macoun, empire, sundance, or sweet 16? Empire is a great cider tree. Lots of juice from an apple. Just drools over the table when I peel them.