Pear grafting is performed to improve the varietal characteristics of the tree. A closely related apple tree is sometimes chosen as the rootstock. Both trees belong to the pome fruit family Rosaceae. This increases the likelihood of a successful graft. This procedure results in a more frost-resistant tree, producing tasty and juicy fruit. Furthermore, grafting shortens the harvest period.
Possibility of grafting a pear onto an apple tree
Gardeners graft fruit trees for several purposes:
- trying to get higher quality fruits;
- replace small and tasteless fruits with varietal pears;
- use free space in a small area more rationally;
- for tree rejuvenation;
- to enhance the strong properties of both plants and to suppress their deficiencies.
By using a properly developed rootstock and a healthy, undamaged scion, a gardener obtains a new, regularly fruiting plant in a shorter period of time. Apple and pear trees are pome fruits, so they can be grafted onto each other.
To ensure successful grafting, adhere to the recommended timing and consider the varietal characteristics of the rootstock. The result is a high-yielding plant with a compact crown and a low height. If a pear is grafted onto an apple tree at the wrong time, the risk of scion rejection increases.
Many gardeners successfully graft pear trees onto apple trees. These trees thrive and produce a good harvest. However, grafting dissimilar trees often ends in failure. After a successful initial stage, the pear branch fails to develop and eventually dies. Sometimes, the graft site grows due to incomplete compatibility between the scion and rootstock.
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To solve this problem, gardeners resort to the following methods:
- The following year, a second grafting is performed. A young shoot that emerged from the previous scion is used as the scion. Another branch from the same apple tree becomes the rootstock. Rejection does not occur because the new scion grew from the same tree. This increases compatibility.
- Intercalary grafting is performed. This procedure involves grafting another link between the rootstock and the scion. A section of stem from another rootstock is used as an intermediate tier. This technique increases compatibility between pear and apple trees.
Deadlines
Many gardeners believe that pear grafting can be done at any time of year, as long as the trees have developing buds. However, the procedures performed at different times of the year have their own specific requirements. Fruit trees are typically grafted in the spring, less commonly in the summer and fall. If favorable conditions are created for the plants, winter grafting in a conservatory or greenhouse is even possible.
Spring grafting
Pear trees are typically grafted onto apple trees in the spring. This time of year is best for this type of fruit tree grafting. The grafting period is chosen before the sap flow begins. If this period is missed, the time when the sap flow is at its most intense is also suitable. Grafting performed during these periods almost always results in successful tissue fusion.
Don't delay grafting. By the time the apple tree's buds begin to open, the scion should have already taken root. Choose a cloudy, windless day with little difference between day and night temperatures. Excessively windy weather, unexpected cold snaps, or rain on the day of grafting reduce the chances of a successful union between the scion and rootstock.
Grafting in summer
Although spring is the most favorable time for grafting fruit trees, this procedure is also performed during the summer months. June is the best time, but if necessary, grafting can be done in early July. In hot and dry weather, wrapping the scion in non-woven fabric protects it from damage. This covering protects the plant from the scorching sun and facilitates successful fiber fusion. In early September, it is recommended to pinch off the young leaves on the scion to ensure the wood matures well before the onset of cold weather.
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Vaccination in autumn
Grafting a pear onto an apple tree in the fall is only possible in southern regions, beginning in early September. Later, the scion doesn't have time to take root and dies during the winter. Fall grafting typically yields the poorest results. The weather at this time of year is unpredictable—it's often windy, rainy, and the temperature drops steadily. Only the strongest scions survive in these conditions. Therefore, when choosing a fall graft, a gardener does so entirely at their own risk.
Selecting scion and rootstock
As a rootstock, gardeners typically choose a cultivar apple tree already growing in the garden. This can be either an old tree or a fruiting young one. If a suitable tree is unavailable, a pear can be grafted onto a wild apple tree dug up in the forest. A self-seeded plant will bear fruit successfully for many years. The lifespan of cultivar apple trees after grafting is limited to 15 years.
Some gardeners graft pears onto columnar apple varieties. However, survival rates in this case are very low. To ensure a successful grafting process, a scion from a columnar pear variety is used. This allows the scion to develop above the graft.
The scion is selected based on the desired outcome. To ensure large fruit production, scions are taken from varieties such as Krupnoplodnaya Susova or Lyubimitsa Yakovleva. These scions are taken from pear trees already growing in the garden or purchased from specialized nurseries. When preparing scions yourself, the scions are taken from the south-facing part of the tree's crown.
Methods of grafting
Proper pear grafting requires specialized tools. Grafting shears are the most convenient tool. These tools, similar to garden shears, are suitable for a variety of applications. The cutting edge of grafting shears comes in different profiles. These profiles are used to cut scions of various diameters and wood species. Using these tools, you can achieve perfectly matched cuts on the scion and rootstock, requiring no additional adjustments.
Advantages of grafting shears:
- ease of cutting;
- high operating speed;
- carrying out a large number of vaccinations in a short period of time.
Disadvantages of using grafting shears:
- The tool is suitable for cutting branches of uniform thickness. If the scion and rootstock are not the same diameter, they are cut off with a knife.
- When using a sector, the fibers are crushed and it takes longer for the scion to fuse with the rootstock.
- Instrument disinfection is very difficult, increasing the risk of bacterial infection.
Budding
This grafting method is used more often than others because it is almost always successful. The ideal time for budding is early July. The step-by-step procedure is as follows:
- the bark on the rootstock trunk is cut in the shape of the letter “T” with a disinfected budding knife;
- a 3 cm long shield with a healthy bud is cut from the scion cutting, capturing the cambium tissue;
- carefully spread the edges of the cut on the scion;
- insert the shield into the cut and close the edges tightly;
- The grafting site is wrapped with budding tape.
Bark grafting
This method is used to graft a pear scion onto an old apple tree if the rootstock diameter is twice or more than the scion's. The graft is made onto a cut trunk or a scaffold branch with a diameter exceeding 15 cm. The scion should be a scion with two buds. The distance from the edge of the scion to the first bud should be at least 11 cm.
A 6-cm cut is made in the lower part of the scion, opposite the bud. The bark of the rootstock is cut in the same way. The scion is inserted into the cut, allowing the top 2 mm of the cut to protrude above the cut surface. The scion is firmly secured and wrapped with tape. The open cut on the rootstock is sealed with garden pitch. More information on bark grafting can be found in the video.
Copulation is simple
Cuttings with developed buds are grafted in spring and summer. Scions from the mother plant are cut after the current year's growth reaches 20 cm. An own-rooted apple tree grown from seed is used as the rootstock. This method is more successful. The graft is made onto a rootstock branch that is the same thickness as the scion. Both branches are cut at an equal, even angle of 30°. The surfaces are then placed against each other to align the layers. This area is tightly wrapped with tape to prevent the tissues from shifting.
Improved copulation
This procedure is performed to ensure a more secure fit between the scion and the rootstock. Matching the diameter of the branches is also important. Cuts are made on the scion and rootstock as for a standard copulation. Then, fixing protrusions are created, complicating the shape. A third of the way down from the top edge of the cut, a cut is made 10-12 mm deep into the branch. The branches are aligned by intersecting the protrusions. The grafting site is secured with tape. The scion is then shortened, making the cut above the second or third bud. The exposed tissue is wrapped with garden pitch.
Into the cleft
This universal method is used by many gardeners. It allows for the fusion of branches of different thicknesses. Cleft grafting is performed only in the spring, before the growing season. This method is typically used to rejuvenate old fruit trees. To do this, the trunk is cut back at a height of 15 cm above ground level. The surface is carefully cleaned. The stump is then sawn to a depth of 5 cm or split with an axe. A wooden wedge is inserted into the finished cut to prevent the cuts from meeting.
A one-year-old pear scion is selected for the graft. It should be chosen so that the buds are above the length of the split in the stump. The lower part is trimmed into a wedge. Avoid touching the cuts with your hands to avoid infection. The scion is inserted into the split, allowing a few millimeters of exposed tissue to protrude above the stump surface and aligning the cambium tissue. If the stump is thick, several shoots may be grafted. The open cut on the stump is sealed with garden pitch.
In the side cut
This technique produces a very strong joint. This method is used when the "bark" method is not possible. A diagonal cut is made on the apple tree trunk at a 25° angle to the center. The pear stalk is sharpened at the bottom to form a wedge. The prepared branch is then inserted into the cut, ensuring the layers are aligned. The structure is firmly secured with tape, and the exposed cuts are coated with garden pitch.
By bridge
This method is used when the tree trunk is damaged all around. These marks are usually caused by rodents or hares chewing the bark during the winter. If the apple tree survives, a bridge graft is performed. This procedure saves the plant from death. The remaining sections of bark at the top and bottom of the trunk are joined with several cuttings. The fusion is performed during the active sap flow stage.
Damaged bark tissue is smoothed out, and cuts are cleaned down to healthy tissue where necessary. All buds are removed from the pear scions. The ends are cut diagonally. The ends of the scions are inserted into pre-made cuts in the remaining bark using the "behind the bark" method. The pear shoots should be positioned in an arch. The grafted areas are firmly secured with tape at the top and bottom and coated with garden pitch. The area is then covered with damp moss and wrapped in burlap.
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Grafting pears onto apples allows gardeners to create a bountiful orchard and effectively rejuvenate and propagate valuable fruit tree varieties. This propagation method preserves all the flavor of the scion's fruit and makes the pear tree more resilient to adverse weather conditions and diseases.
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