Graft problem? (forum)

amanda starts with ...
Hi guys - I am not sure if this is normal or not? The graft seems to be getting bigger than the rootstock? (the yellow marks are for the graft attachment mark) Tree is 4yrs approx and I am having lots of trouble with it for some reason.

(ps - the darker brown on the graft is due to vaseline I put on 2yrs ago to stop the weevils climbing up - not sure this was a good idea in hindsight..)
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 19th October 2010 8:56pm

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Original Post was last edited: 19th October 2010 9:01pm

About the Author amanda19
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Itdepends says...
I wouldn't worry about it. One thing that can cause it is if you've had grass or compacted soil around the base of the tree and the soil level is now lower. The trunk below the soil/grass level will be thinner.

As a side note- that's planted with the graft pretty close to the soil surface- was it that deep in the pot when you got it?

Daniel

Time: 19th October 2010 9:26pm

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amanda says...
Thanks Itdepends - some advice from the nursery saw me plant them deeper. The theory being to get the root ball deep due to our dry climate....

Personally I won't do it again :( but I was a complete novice at the time...(it works well for my natives tho')

There has been no competition at all but the sand compacts so easily here. I have mostly grafted trees and in all instances the rootstock is bigger?

Thanks for your comments - it might be worth getting the pitchfork in and gently opening up the soil a little perhaps.



Time: 19th October 2010 10:24pm

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Jason says...
That's normal for a dwarfing rootstock you always get the top outgrowing the rootstock

Time: 19th October 2010 10:57pm

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About the Author Jason10
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amanda says...
It's a Marianna 2642 (or there-abouts?!) rootstock with a Japanese Gulf Ruby plum graft. Is that semi dwarf? I have no idea myself - it was all I could buy here...but they about 2m tall (nothing gets very tall here with the wind etc..)

Time: 19th October 2010 11:58pm

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Original Post was last edited: 20th October 2010 12:00am

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Jason says...
Just read a page that says it's super dwarfing with an almond grafted on it, not sure how dwarf with a plum on it. But I can see just looking at it that it's not as vigorous as the plum. All my citrus look fairly similar to that but since I'm in a marginal climate for citrus I'm taking air layers of them now to see how I go with mandarins on their own roots, they should be much stronger trees I think/hope.

I had a big day today because I decided to prune 4 overgrown babaco plants and ended up with more sticks than I planed, 72 in fact :p and so far I've only been able to plant 20 and so I still have 52 cuttings in a big shopping bag outside with no possible way to do anything with that many cuttings apart from stick them in the ground ...... big day tomorrow

Time: 20th October 2010 1:15am

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About the Author Jason
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Brendan says...
Hi Jason, you used these Rooter Pots before? (for air-layering). I haven't, but plan to buy some next year.
If you've used them, did they work ok?

http://www.gardenexpress.com.au/rooter-pot/
http://www.nutri-tech.com.au/products/misc-products/the-rooterpot.html

Time: 20th October 2010 7:46am

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About the Author Brendan
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Jason says...
No I'm not that fancy, I just bash some sticky soil around the branch then wrap it up like it's 3000BC :)?. But those pots do look good

Time: 20th October 2010 5:12pm

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HappyEarth says...
Hi Amanda,

Vaseline is not a good idea. Ive seen two trees die (citrus and macadamia) from vaseline being applied to the bark. From the photo and the description of the health of the tree, it looks to me like the dark brown area is slowly dying - time will tell. Hopefully im wrong and your tree will come good.

Rich
www.happyearth.com.au

Time: 20th October 2010 8:22pm

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About the Author HappyEarth1
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amanda says...
Hey thanks everyone - wow HappyEarth - thanks for the heads up there! I heard about using this method for stopping ants climbing up the trunk, on a talk back show!

Yea - the bark is a bit soft and flakey. I wonder if I can get it off now :(

Time: 20th October 2010 10:29pm

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speedy says...
Hey Amanda, you could try 'gladwrap' around the trunk and vaseline or grease on that gladwrap
or wide masking tape.
gladwrap will streck with growth, but masking tape may have to be replaced more often.

hey Brendan, I wanted something like those 'marcot pots' many years ago, in fact I wanted to find someone (plastics manufacturer) to make some up.
I used to improvise and use a couple of plastic pots and plastic film to make a simmilar thing.

I have seen some very neat jobs done with plastic freezed bags, string and a stapler.

Time: 22nd October 2010 10:03pm

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Brendan says...
Hi Amanda & All,
Have a look at the 'Vaseline on tree trunks' postings, they have a good answer :-)
(The one from me)

Time: 23rd October 2010 7:23am

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About the Author Brendan
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amanda says...
OK!

Time: 23rd October 2010 12:41pm

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About the Author amanda19
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