Our new apple trees are proving a little stubborn in the branching department, so we have resorted to the technique of scoring (where a cut is made through the bark and into the cambium layer that is the trees' growth tissue). When done above a bud it disrupts the flow of the plant hormones, forcing them into the bud and therefore promoting branching. Cutting a small notch would have the same effect. Fingers crossed that this technique works!
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Scoring apple trees
Our new apple trees are proving a little stubborn in the branching department, so we have resorted to the technique of scoring (where a cut is made through the bark and into the cambium layer that is the trees' growth tissue). When done above a bud it disrupts the flow of the plant hormones, forcing them into the bud and therefore promoting branching. Cutting a small notch would have the same effect. Fingers crossed that this technique works!
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Hello. Enjoy reading your blog and have one question regarding your apple scoring. I work in the gardens of Worcester College, Oxford and we have roses that are also being stubborn in the branching department. Will this method of scoring work on climbing roses as they are both part of the same family, Rosaceae? We have bent over some of the young stems to cause them to bud, but would be interested to know if the scoring method would also work. Thank you, Allison
ReplyDeleteHi Allison,
ReplyDeleteAlthough mainly used as a technique on top fruit, I see no reason why it shouldn't work on climbing roses. As you might guess, it has to be done before bud swell/bloom (6/7 weeks before for preference).
My only concern might be that it could provide an inlet for fungal diseases, but you should be less prone to that in Oxfordshire anyway. As long as we don't get a prolonged wet spell, or there isn't a frost while the wound is still green it should be ok (fingers crossed!). Do you have the opportunity to try it on one as a control subject first? (When this trick is used after blooming it can actually inhibit growth by the way!). Just make sure you do actually score (or notch, either would work)into the cambium layer and it should have the desired effect! Let me know how it goes!
Thanks
Annie