Bonsai Tonight

An educational website about bonsai development

Treating a successful approach graft on black pine

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Here’s how to treat a successful approach graft on black pine. The first step is removing any tape holding the graft in place.

Approach graft held in place with tape

Tape holding graft in place

After removing tape

After removing tape

Next, remove the stub with concave cutters.

Removing the stub

Removing the stub

A chisel can be used to further gouge out the stub to ensure that the wound heals even with bark around it.

Carving out the stub

Gouging the base of the stub

Adding a dab of cut paste seals the wound while it heals. The wound will likely heal in about one year.

Sealing the wound with cut paste

Adding a dab of cut paste

The tree belongs to a Bay Island Bonsai member who has been developing the branches pretty much from scratch over the past couple of years. It’s coming along nicely. At this rate, the tree will be in great shape in just a few years – it might even be show ready in 5-10 years.

Black pine

Black pine in early stages of development – can you spot the recent graft?

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Comments

  1. Hello Jonas. I also have a pine that is in need of approach grafting … and i am wondering what time of year is best to do this ?

    Matthiew Quinn

  2. Was this bark on bark or did you remove some at the point of contact? And yes, what season is it best to start one of these grafts? I’m in Ohio so I assume it is not the same time of year as you did the graft.

  3. Hi Zack and Matthiew – bark is typically shaved so the cambium layers have a chance to meet up. As to the season, my understanding is that approach grafts can be struck any time when the tree is active. I’ve only tried this in summer, though I’ve seen others do earlier and later in the growing season.