The Latest Technical Method Tutorial for Top Grafting to Change the Canopy of Pear Trees

Pear trees are extremely widely distributed in China, and there are also a great many varieties. Many people are not sure about the variety when planting pear trees, and when waiting for the fruit they find that the variety is not good. At this point, replanting takes time and effort, so the technique of top grafting to change the canopy arose in response. This so-called top grafting to change the canopy means using the existing framework of the pear tree and combining long and short scions to carry out a one-time canopy change, so that low-yielding trees can also achieve high yields. So how should it be done? Follow the editor and take a look.

1. Preparations Before Top Grafting

When preparing to carry out top grafting on pear trees, fertilizer and water management must be strengthened one year in advance, pests and diseases strictly prevented, and every possible means used to improve the tree vigor of the pear trees. When top grafting, the plant should also be given final shaping and pruning. Prune 2-3 days before grafting, remove excess scaffold branches and auxiliary nurturing branches, and keep the main branches and side branches to be grafted, cutting them back to 20-30 cm as rootstock stubs. Leave one rootstock stub every 15-20 cm, grafting alternately on both sides of the plant until reaching 1 cm from the top.

2. Master the Grafting Period

Grafting is generally carried out when sap begins to flow but before buds sprout, roughly around March to April. If the bud grafting method is used, it can be done in June to August when the bark slips.

3. Scion Treatment

The scions must be selected from high-quality varieties with large fruit, attractive appearance, and suitability for local planting. These varieties should be obtained from mother plants with strong tree vigor, and the scions should be collected from well-developed, plump-budded, one-year-old vigorous vegetative branches or fruiting branches on the outer part of the canopy. The scions used for spring branch grafting can be collected together with winter pruning, taking well-developed one-year-old branches, tying them in bundles by variety, and storing them buried in a cellar or pit. In addition, a layer of fine sand needs to be spread at the bottom, with humidity such that the sand forms a ball when squeezed in the hand without dripping, and falls apart when the hand is opened.

4. Management After the Season

There are many solutions that can be used for top grafting, mainly branch grafting, chip budding, bud grafting, side grafting, and so on. Each grafting method has its advantages, and the common grafting method is branch grafting, which can be carried out when sap flows but before buds sprout. After grafting, management must be strengthened, so that a relatively good grafting survival rate can be obtained, such as fertilizer and water management, flower and fruit management, and shaping and pruning.

The above is an introduction to the top grafting technique for changing the canopy of pear trees. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.