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Committing to an approach graft – separating the roots

August 13, 2021 by Jonas Dupuich

I recently acquired a California juniper with two approach grafts. The grafts were struck to change the foliage from California juniper to shimpaku juniper.

At first glance, it looked like the grafts had both taken. The key indicator is when the branch swells past the graft union.

California juniper

California juniper with two approach grafts

Swelling

Swelling past the graft union

The graft aftercare had been good. At a spot just below the union, the live bark had been incrementally cut away.

Deadwood

Dead wood where the lifeline had been removed

There is also a tourniquet below the union to further restrict resources returning to the roots.

Tourniquet

Aluminum wire tourniquet

Looking from the other side of the graft, I found a small strand of lifeline.

Remaining lifeline

Sliver of remaining lifeline

I cut into it with a grafting knife to make it more narrow, but cut all the way through it on the first pass as it was very slender.

Last strand of lifeline

The last strand of lifeline

As there was so little lifeline left to support the grafted foliage, I separated the roots and moved on to the second approach graft.

There was no remaining lifeline on this graft so I completely cut it. This left a short stub.

Stub

Stub left after removing the roots

I cut the stub just below the union and treated it with cut paste to promote callus formation.

After removing the stub

After removing the stub

After sealing the wound

After sealing the wound with cut paste

Here’s the tree after removing the roots from both approach grafts.

Grafted California juniper

Grafted California juniper – 28″

As you can see, there are still two branches with California juniper foliage. I’ll leave these for now as I may make additional grafts at the base of these branches to complete the transformation from California juniper to shimpaku juniper.

I’ll let the new branches grow some more before wiring them into place and giving the tree a new shape, likely this coming winter.

Bonsai Sale Update

Thanks to everyone who’s inquired about trees in the bonsai sale! I’ve updated the sales page and added five new items. As before, trees may be picked up in Alameda, California anytime or at the U.S. National Exhibition in Rochester, New York on September 10th.

See the new trees, including this juniper, in the Bonsai Sale!

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Filed Under: Bonsai Development Tagged With: California juniper, Grafting

Previous Post: « Initial cutback on a coast live oak – and Tree Sale!
Next Post: Developing a grafted juniper »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. James Scott Chadd says

    August 13, 2021 at 11:05 am

    i have found it important to make sure there is lots of energy pushing the graft prior to removing the native foliage. if the Calif. juniper part of the tree is removed before the Shimpaku is big enough to carry the whole tree it could be a serious problem.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      August 13, 2021 at 12:41 pm

      Good tip – thanks, Scott!

  2. Rafi Kazi says

    August 13, 2021 at 12:04 pm

    Thank you for another post! What season do you start your approach grafts?

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      August 13, 2021 at 12:42 pm

      Thanks, Rafi! A number of times of year can work. I like early spring but have done them in summer and fall too.

      • Rafi Kazi says

        August 13, 2021 at 1:23 pm

        Thanks! Appreciate your time and knowledge.

  3. Tim V. says

    August 15, 2021 at 8:33 am

    From the picture showing the tree as a whole, it almost looks like the two grafts have a different color. Is this due to a difference in variety? If not, what if you add more grafts yourself later on? I would assume you will use different genetics to graft on the tree than the original owner did… does this concern you?
    Btw, I’m speaking as a person who has not done a single graft in his life!
    Or did one graft simply take better than the other?
    All in all, that trunk is spectacular!! Beautiful movement and very natural-looking. Cant wait to see its further evolution.
    Best of luck and kind regards

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      August 15, 2021 at 7:47 pm

      Thanks, Tim – great questions! The best way to do approach grafts is to use young trees that were grown from cuttings that came from the same parent. I suspect that’s the case here but I don’t know for sure. The color difference is likely due to the different health of each branch – one is more anemic than the other.

      For subsequent grafts I can use a scion from the current grafts once they get a bit healthier – that way the foliage will be exactly the same.

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P.O. Box 6560, Alameda, CA 94501 · 510-915-2025 · jonas (at) bonsaitonight (dot) com

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