How to propagate an apple tree without grafting: cuttings in summer

The natural maturation of a fruit tree is a constant process. But you can always take care of the reproduction of the apple tree in advance, thanks to which it will be possible to preserve the variety and enjoy your favorite fruits for many years to come. But before you propagate an apple tree, you should familiarize yourself with the recommendations of agronomists who have extensive experience in this matter. A novice gardener can make a mistake that will lead to the death of the variety.

Pros and cons of breeding apple trees from your garden

Many novice gardeners are trying to find a way to propagate an old, beloved tree. But in order to get a tasty apple, as well as grow a new tree, it is necessary to study all the positive and negative aspects of this issue.

A healthy tree can produce a good harvest

The pluses include:

• A large list of available breeding options.
• The ability to increase yields and get more fruits from the same garden plot.
• Simplicity of the process.
• Almost any variety can be rooted, even the columnar variety.

It is almost impossible to get a strong seedling from a diseased tree.

The main disadvantage in this process is the transfer of existing diseases from an old tree to a young seedling.

Reproduction of an apple tree in nature

By the laws of nature, apple trees grow in the wild from seeds. It is important to understand that this culture does not have the ability to completely repeat the taste of its ancestor. It is for this reason that professional agronomists prefer to use exclusively grafting, since grafted seedlings provide a high-quality result.

Bees are an essential element for the normal development of the tree.

Apple trees are among the species that require pollination by bees. Only in this case will the harvest be obtained. For each hectare of planting, 2-3 large hives are required.

Reproduction terms by rooting cuttings

In fact, the timing of breeding directly depends on the chosen rooting method. The main rule is that the propagation of an apple tree by cuttings should be carried out with the condition of the full development of the seedling until autumn. That is, the process of cutting an apple tree should begin in winter or spring. Rooting apple cuttings at home can be done in a variety of ways. And the time of the procedure depends on this.

Planting an apple tree using cuttings

Features of removing an apple tree from green cuttings

To reproduce the apple tree with green cuttings, it is recommended to take a twig from young shoots. But it is important to choose a shoot that has already begun to grow stiff. Before you propagate the apple tree with branches, you need to wait for the buds to open.

Cutting an apple tree in summer implies the following rules:

• All procedures must be performed exclusively in the morning.Slices should be made at an angle of at least 45 degrees. As a rule, at least 3 viable cuttings can be obtained from one shoot. All manipulations can be done only with a disinfected instrument.
• It is best to let the root of the shoots, on which there are at least 3 leaves. At the same time, the lower ones should be removed, and only the upper ones should be left, which at the same time need to be shortened.
• Before planting the cutting in the ground, it must be kept in a special stimulating solution for at least a day. The container should be covered with a transparent film, this will help the apple tree germinate in greenhouse conditions.
• It is recommended to use light and well-moistened soil for planting.
• Cuttings should be planted in a container to a depth of no more than 1 cm, otherwise they can rot. You should also be careful not to let the leaves touch the ground.
• It is very important not only to constantly air the plantings, but also to carefully monitor the level of humidity.
• If all procedures are carried out clearly and without errors, then rooting will occur in about 30 days.

The use of green cuttings in propagation is a favorite method of novice gardeners.

If it was decided to carry out reproduction in the spring, then in June it will be possible to plant the cutting in open ground. The summer climate will allow the apple tree to get proper immunity.

More on layering propagation

The use of cuttings is used less often in rooting, since this method is much more complicated than cuttings. To do this, the branches of the tree must be bent as carefully as possible to the ground and carefully dig in. Over the summer, this shoot will take root well and form a high-quality root system. In the future, the shoot that has taken root must be carefully separated from the mother tree and planted in the place where it will grow in the future.

This breeding method is used very rarely, since the lower branches are high enough and at the time of bending to the ground they can simply break. Digging in layers can be performed all year round. The only exceptions are flowering times or too hot weather.

Reproduction of an apple tree with eyes (budding)

Apple budding is a grafting. For this, a kidney is used, which is taken from the cutting. This method is most often used for fruit crops. The grafting is done in the center of the root collar. When budding takes root, the shoot begins to grow rapidly and the next year it can be transplanted to a permanent place of growth.

If it is decided to use the breeding with eyes, then it cannot be carried out in wet weather. In this case, the cut point can rot from the ingress of water. The first results will appear in 12-14 days. If the manipulation was carried out correctly, then the peephole will remain green, as if fresh.

Sequential budding of a fruit tree

For this method, special equipment is used, which must be thoroughly disinfected. It is best to make a "T" cut. In this case, the easiest way is to expose the wood and insert a pre-prepared peephole there. Throughout the entire period of engraftment, the cut site must be constantly moistened. For this, it is recommended to use a damp, clean cloth or washcloth.

Is it possible to propagate an apple tree by root suckers

The method of propagating a tree by root suckers is used much less often. All material for this procedure must be prepared in advance. It is recommended to use only strong and healthy trees.The optimal age for harvesting is 1-2 years. It is best to dig it in the fall or spring. This method is used extremely rarely, since such offspring rarely take root and their quality is worse than average.

Propagation by root cuttings

Reproduction in this way can be done in two ways:

1. With the help of a scion, as which it is allowed to use even wild varieties. Harvesting of cuttings should be carried out on the same day as the procedure itself. All leaves should be removed from the cuttings.
2. Using root seedlings. Harvesting should be carried out before bud break or in the spring. The optimum cutting height is 15-18 cm. The distance between plantings should not be less than 30 cm. It is recommended to bury the cut site no more than 2 cm into the ground. Another important condition for the healthy development of an apple tree is soil mulching.

Apple tree propagation technique by air layers

The "oldest" breeding method, which is used even by experienced gardeners. For these purposes, only lignified shoot is used. Before breeding, you need to prepare in advance:

• remove part of the bark and treat this place with a special tool to stimulate root formation;
• pre-cut off all the leaves on the cut;
• you should also cover the cut with wet moss and wrap everything with electrical tape or just a bag.

When the "sleep period" ends with the cut, it is necessary to remove the growth and it is in this area that root formation will begin. Further, the shoot must be separated from the main branch and planted in a new place of future residence.

What is cloning method

Cloning plants has become very fashionable in recent years. Even novice gardeners use this method. This is due to the fact that not all varieties can be propagated by layering. The method is similar to division using offspring. It is recommended to select them and plant them first. Cloned seedlings take root quite easily. Flowering in this case begins as early as the fourth year. Fruiting in cloned trees is usually abundant. The easiest way is to use the branches that are as low as possible. Under them, you can put a container with fertile soil, pin it and sprinkle it with earth. In advance, part of the bark should be removed from the branch and treated with a root formation stimulator. In this case, you will get a cloned layer, which will exactly repeat all the "parental qualities".

Cloning is generally used by industrial breeders and is increasingly used in agriculture

Seed propagation

Ordinary gardeners rarely use seed propagation, since only a wild variety will grow at home. The technique is suitable for nurseries. With its help, most often, new varieties are bred.

At the same time, seed reproduction in a nursery allows you to get:

• Tall tree.
• Good fruiting.
• Strong immunity.

To preserve all the properties of the parent tree, the procedure must be repeated several times. For this, pollen from one tree must be transferred to another.

Seed breeding method

Possible mistakes and failures

The use of low-quality material can lead to a negative result. That is why it is recommended to use cuttings for propagation. This is the easiest and most convenient way to avoid a lot of mistakes. All vaccinations should take place only at a certain angle. You cannot use forked branches.The use of transparencies in reproduction is discouraged. It is best to take black special polyethylene for these manipulations.

Experienced gardening tips

Experienced gardeners and all breeders advise not to neglect the following recommendations for propagating an apple tree:

• You can not plant fruit crops in the spring by cuttings. They grow very quickly at this time and they do not have enough nutrient juices for normal functioning. That is why almost all sprouts dry out and die as a result.
• Harvesting cuttings is best done in the summer, since it is the elevated temperature that allows the planting material to be filled with nutrients.
• On mature trees, several vaccinations can be done at the same time. This will give you the best possible result.
• The breeding season is stressful for the tree. That is why one should not forget about other ways of caring for an apple tree. It is necessary to apply fertilizers in a timely manner, moisten the soil and remove all harmful insects.

Compliance with basic rules for caring for a tree will allow you to get an excellent harvest.

Reproduction of an apple tree requires strict adherence to elementary rules. This will avoid problems in the future and prevent the development of all kinds of pathologies. Even minor mistakes can lead to significant crop loss and change its quality characteristics.