Lee Burkhill: Award Winning Designer & BBC 1's Garden Rescue Presenters Official Blog
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My flamingo willow tree has recently starting sprouting another species from the trunk. The trunk has three sites where this is happening, each with at least three stems coming out. Other than continually cutting them (which is a bit difficult at the mo due to the hornets being attracted by the black bugs) is there anything that can do done to prevent the stems re-growing?
Many thanks
Hello,
My flamingo willow tree has recently starting sprouting another species from the trunk. The trunk has three sites where this is happening, each with at least three stems coming out. Other than continually cutting them (which is a bit difficult at the mo due to the hornets being attracted by the black bugs) is there anything that can do done to prevent the stems re-growing?
Thanks for the question. The quick answer is these unusual or weird leaves are growing below the tree graft (which is where the Flamingo Willow has been grafted onto a smaller root stock to control its growth).
These leaves are from the true root stock and not the willow. Cut them off whenever you see them as they will taker vigour from the Flamingo Willow.
There are a few reasons why trees are grafted such as the one you have.
Trees are often grafted for several important reasons:
Clonal Reproduction Grafting allows for the exact genetic replication of a desirable tree, ensuring that the new tree will have the same traits as the parent, such as fruit quality, flower color, or growth habit. This is particularly important for fruit trees, where consistency in fruit size, taste, and yield is crucial.
Disease ResistanceSome rootstocks used in grafting are selected for their resistance to soil-borne diseases, pests, or harsh environmental conditions. By grafting a desirable variety onto a hardy rootstock, the resulting tree can combine the best traits of both plants—disease resistance from the rootstock and high-quality fruit from the grafted scion.
Size ControlGrafting is used to control the size of trees, particularly in fruit orchards. Dwarfing rootstocks can be used to produce smaller, more manageable trees that are easier to harvest and maintain, making them suitable for limited space or high-density planting systems.
Faster MaturityGrafted trees often reach maturity and begin producing fruit much faster than trees grown from seed. This is because the scion is already mature and grafting bypasses the juvenile phase that seedlings must go through.
Hardiness and Adaptability Grafting allows for the combination of a scion that produces desirable fruit or flowers with a rootstock that is better suited to local soil conditions, climate, or other environmental factors. This makes the tree more adaptable and robust in different growing conditions.
Repairing or Reinforcing Trees Grafting can be used to repair damaged trees by bridging a graft over a damaged area or to reinforce trees by grafting additional branches onto weak or poorly structured trees.
Multiple Varieties on One Tree Some trees are grafted with multiple varieties of fruit or flowers onto a single rootstock, allowing for a diverse harvest or ornamental display from one tree. This is common in "fruit salad" trees or multi-grafted rose bushes.
Thanks for the question. The quick answer is these unusual or weird leaves are growing below the tree graft (which is where the Flamingo Willow has been grafted onto a smaller root stock to control its growth).
These leaves are from the true root stock and not the willow. Cut them off whenever you see them as they will taker vigour from the Flamingo Willow.
There are a few reasons why trees are grafted such as the one you have.
Trees are often grafted for several important reasons:
Clonal Reproduction Grafting allows for the exact genetic replication of a desirable tree, ensuring that the new tree will have the same traits as the parent, such as fruit quality, flower color, or growth habit. This is particularly important for fruit trees, where consistency in fruit size, taste, and yield is crucial.
Disease ResistanceSome rootstocks used in grafting are selected for their resistance to soil-borne diseases, pests, or harsh environmental conditions. By grafting a desirable variety onto a hardy rootstock, the resulting tree can combine the best traits of both plants—disease resistance from the rootstock and high-quality fruit from the grafted scion.
Size ControlGrafting is used to control the size of trees, particularly in fruit orchards. Dwarfing rootstocks can be used to produce smaller, more manageable trees that are easier to harvest and maintain, making them suitable for limited space or high-density planting systems.
Faster MaturityGrafted trees often reach maturity and begin producing fruit much faster than trees grown from seed. This is because the scion is already mature and grafting bypasses the juvenile phase that seedlings must go through.
Hardiness and Adaptability Grafting allows for the combination of a scion that produces desirable fruit or flowers with a rootstock that is better suited to local soil conditions, climate, or other environmental factors. This makes the tree more adaptable and robust in different growing conditions.
Repairing or Reinforcing Trees Grafting can be used to repair damaged trees by bridging a graft over a damaged area or to reinforce trees by grafting additional branches onto weak or poorly structured trees.
Multiple Varieties on One Tree Some trees are grafted with multiple varieties of fruit or flowers onto a single rootstock, allowing for a diverse harvest or ornamental display from one tree. This is common in "fruit salad" trees or multi-grafted rose bushes.
Lee Burkhill: Award Winning Designer & BBC 1's Garden Rescue Presenters Official Blog
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