Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi, Lyn has had trouble registering, but has an emergency request, can anyone help? (I'm sorting the registration problem... )

Today my husband managed to damage a young apple tree. Wheelbarrow fell on it scratched the bark above graft and the tree has broken off at the graft. CAN WE SAVE IT? If so what should we do? No experience of grafting...

If anyone can help, please post ASAP!!!

This happened to me last year and I taped it up and it has survived and gone on to fruit. I left the tape on until it was outgrown.

I don't know if I should have used tape, but it worked!

Hi Lyn,
If it has actually snapped of that is curtains!
Even if it has been split and you tape as Tigger suggests you will have an inbuilt weakness and a few years down the line it could very well let you down when it has masses of fruit on it. I say a tear shed now is better than a bucketful a few years down the line.
I know very well that I will be viewed as a Siserable Old Mod but I do feel that my advice is sound.

Thank you both for your help. My husband die tape tree up, but it is looking very sorry for itself. So I think we may have had a 50/50% chance of success. Taking on board what you both say, looks like Ill be buying a new apple tree!! Thanks again

Oh dear my typing is not what it was, no I did not kill my husband, he DID tape the tree up, I did not actually murder him for ruining my tree!!!

You don't lose anything by trying the tape method. If it's a gonner - it's a gonner. If it survives, support the weight of fruit for the first few years. Otherwise, get your cheque book out.

Hi Tigger,
I like the sentiment but sadly it is not correct.
When a young tree has been damaged like that, and sad as it is, it is best to cull it. You can nurture the tree for years and just one puff of wind in the wrong quarter and the whole lot comes tumbling down.
Even trees that have been badly grafted will do just that and where they snap, on inspection, you can see the fault.