February program notes:

At our February general meeting Bob Callaham gave a demonstration of
thread grafting techniques. The benefit of this procedure is to put a
branch or root exactly where one wants on azaleas, wisterias, and all
hard wood trees. The grafted scion is typically an elongated branch
from the stock tree but can also come from another tree of the same
species. The basic technique involves drilling a hole through a branch
or trunk and threading a smaller branch through to the side where you
want it to grow. The scion branch has it?s cambia exposed at the
entrance and exit of the hole. Both ends are sealed with cut paste and
eventually the united scion and stock fuse together. Bob brought
several examples of trees with one or multiple thread grafts which he
had completed. He used a large stand in trunk to demonstrate how it is
done. Bob claims to have between 80%-90% success with this technique.
The work is done on deciduous trees before buds break in the spring.
Use a vigorous shoot to ensure survival. The scion branch should be
wired to support it and guide it to the area of the graft. You will
need an electric drill with different sized bits preferably
self-centering, a wire cutter and plyer, a sharp knife and cut paste.
Once you have chosen the location of the new branch and wired the scion
branch and determined that it will reach, place the drill bit
perpendicular to the stock branch or trunk at the exit side of the
graft ( this ensures a cleaner cut at the final union). Hold a board or
dowel at the opposite side where the bit will emerge to provide
support. If you want the new branch to emerge at a angle to the stock
branch change direction of the bit once it has broken the bark and
entered the stock. If the bit walks use a smaller bit to start then
change to a size which will accommodate the scion. After the hole is
complete clean up any rough cuts with a sharp knife. Now the scion can
be threaded through the hole in the stock. Two cuts are now made on
the scion on the top of the branch to expose the cambium just inside
the entrance and exit of the hole in the stock. This cut should be
small to prevent dehydration of the scion and done with a sharp knife.
The cuts are on top of the branch because this is the direction that
food comes down from the leaves. To ensure contact with the cambium
inside the hole a wedge can be placed at the underside of the scion
branch and trimmed off even with the stock. Finally make a small roll
of cut paste which will wrap around the circumference of the scion.
Wrap this around the scion at the entrance and exit points and seal the
cuts to prevent air and moisture from entering. Don?t push paste into
the hole, just seal the outside. In the following months look for a
swelling on the exit side and growth of the scion before severing at
the entrance side. This technique should only be used on healthy and
vigorous trees. The area of stock to receive the scion must be live
tissue definitely not below a dead branch.
Bob left us with a reprint of a ?Golden Statements? article he wrote
(vol. XXVII) which will be available in the club library and covers
this topic extensively.

Also this month BSSF hosted a special workshop on third Thursday with
Walter Pall, a bonsai stylist with a reputation for styling bonsai with
a wild or natural perspective. The workshop was an invigorating
exercise for all who participated. Each tree was considered by those
assembled, critiqued and examined exhaustively until all possible
outcomes were considered. Then each tree?s owner had decisions to make
and actions to take. The workshop was good challenge for all of us who
attended and we look forward to seeing some of these trees return as
they grow into the work that was done.

No Tags