When you prune fruit trees, you’ll be left with cuttings. And these cuttings can be turned into new trees. Learn how to propagate and grow your own apple trees.
I prune my apple trees every year, and I am still learning how to get it right. I think I’ve done a good job thus far. It’s a little bit tricky, especially if the branches are thicker than your secateurs can handle, but the trees look healthy. Since the trees were so healthy, and the branches full of life, I decided to give them a chance at a second life. A new life as a new fruit tree.
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1. Choose a cutting
First you need to check the bottom of the branch from the apple tree, where it was cut off, and make sure it is alive and well. The inside of the branch should be some shade of green. If not, cut the branch just below another node and check it again. Better? Good.
Personally, I wouldn’t propagate cuttings that are thicker than the width of a human finger nail. The thinner ones are easier to propagate and the thicker ones simply aren’t as likely to root. They still could, of course, but I’ve found that the slimmer cuttings to root more easily. I use the thicker cuttings to make spreaders for my trees. This allows me to keep more branches and still get the tree to grow in the shape I prefer. For me, that’s the wineglass shape. That”s the one that is the easiest to pick, in my opinion at least.
2. Prepare the cutting
To prepare the apple tree cutting for being planted, I first make sure the bottom cut is at an angle and close to a bud. That will make it easier for it to grow roots. I let it soak in water for anywhere between a few hours up to a few days. After that, I remove all of the leaves except for the ones on top. Sometimes I cut the leaves I keep in half. I want the apple tree cuttings to focus on growing roots. Not on growing leaves. I make sure the cutting looks healthy and that it is at an acceptable height. You don’t want them to be too long, or they’ll be more likely to break or rot.
3. Plant the cutting
There are a few ways to plant the cuttings. First you’ll need pots, soil and depending on your method, one potato per branch.
With the first apple tree that I pruned, I made an x cut in a potato and placed the branch inside the cut. Then I planted it, potato and all, in a pot and covered it with soil. It worked out great.
With the fruit trees after that, I simply placed the cuttings in pots and made sure to press down on the soil. That way I get more soil into the pot, and the cutting will be sturdier for it.
Some like to dip the plants they’re propagating in some sort of rooting agent. It can be a natural one, like cinnamon (which prevents mould as well), or a commercial one. Your pick, but it is not a must.
Now what?
Now we wait. It’s best to plant your apple tree cuttings during summer/late summer and let them have autumn, fall and winter to grow roots. Keep them in a shielded area that is fairly dark. They need water, but they will not require sunlight at this stage. In fact, the lack of sunlight allows them to focus inward and build stronger roots, and that’s what we want.
Keep checking in on them to make sure they aren’t rotting. Sometimes the potatoes sprout, and that’s fine. If you’d like, you can gently remove the potato greens and then allow the cuttings to continue growing.
If you’d like to try and grow apple trees from seed instead, check out this article!
Good luck!
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