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Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: funlul on February 20, 2015, 04:46:00 PM

Title: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on February 20, 2015, 04:46:00 PM
Dear tropical fruit forum community, I am hoping to hear some advice as I am total new to gardening and this avocado tree is too precious to us. It's 25' tall with grafted variety on right side and rootstock on left side. We are contemplating to trim the tree down to more manageable size, the questions are:

1) In SoCal zone 10b, how risky is topping? It may involve 4-5' topping on the main rootstock branch (#2). We want to find the balance between easier picking and long-term damage. Minimal yield for couple years is expected.

2) The rootstock side may completely lose a major branch (#4), cut at approximately 5 feet from the ground, roughly 1 feet diameter. How realistic is it to graft a piece of scion from the "good side" to here? Grafting tutorials seem to talk about significantly smaller bark diameter (within 1/2 feet). Is it too much for the tree's health to trim and immediately graft?

3) There is a lot of weight on the good side branch, what would you recommend for a good support? Maybe put a 4x4 wood underneath?

Your help is greatly appreciated!
(http://s18.postimg.cc/vedw79kfp/fix_copy.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/vedw79kfp/)

Edited to add photos of trunk damage :'(
(http://s8.postimg.cc/63ymykldd/IMG_20150223_113047.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/63ymykldd/)

(http://s7.postimg.cc/46ptvlv3b/IMG_20150223_112949.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/46ptvlv3b/)

(http://s2.postimg.cc/6upt1irdh/IMG_20150223_113032.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/6upt1irdh/)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: gnappi on February 21, 2015, 08:37:11 AM
Dear tropical fruit forum community, I am hoping to hear some advice as I am total new to gardening and this avocado tree is too precious to us. It's 25' tall with grafted variety on right side and rootstock on left side. We are contemplating to trim the tree down to more manageable size, the questions are:

1) In SoCal zone 10b, how risky is topping?

Gads, there are scads of youtube vids on top working avo. My Florida "watercado" has two trunks and got HUGE,  and one trunk snapped under the weight of fruit breaking my Geffner when it fell. I cut both trunks to 4' tall. It sprouted quite a bit since then so I just keep snapping the new growth off till it dies. I don't think you have any worries there. Search "top working avocado youtube" and you'll get a bunch of good info.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on February 21, 2015, 01:00:54 PM
Ha newbie mistake... The tree is has not been pruned and no new woods are in sight. Flowering already and there are no dormant budwoods whatsoever! Now I have to look for scion wood too... Or maybe wait for new woods after the trim and do veneer grafting?

Still hoping to find out whether really big tree trunks are suitable for bark grafting... Can't find the source right now, but a grafting tutorial I read seemed to talk about significantly smaller bark diameter only (within 1/2 feet).

Gads, there are scads of youtube vids on top working avo. My Florida "watercado" has two trunks and got HUGE,  and one trunk snapped under the weight of fruit breaking my Geffner when it fell. I cut both trunks to 4' tall. It sprouted quite a bit since then so I just keep snapping the new growth off till it dies. I don't think you have any worries there. Search "top working avocado youtube" and you'll get a bunch of good info.

Thank you very much, I watched quite some videos but am still concerned because 1) total newbie, tutorial videos generally show smaller tree trunks, and 2) tree trimming services that came out to quote warned me against topping the tree AT ALL, citing reduced life span in the long term or the tree possibly dying in 5 years. That's sounds like a lot of risk :(

Off to search for "top working avocado" on youtube, thank you again Gary!!! 
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on February 22, 2015, 02:34:18 PM
Update: The middle main branch (#2) and one of the major branches (#4) are plagued by termites near the bottom, the newest advice we received is to remove the main branch completely as well because the half-dead trunk would be vulnerable to wind damage. Now that's two really conflicting approaches we heard from different tree trim services --- no topping AT ALL and complete topping!
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: simon_grow on February 22, 2015, 07:23:03 PM
Where does the termite damage begin and how severe is it? Because your tree was not properly pruned when it was smaller, it leaves you with fewer options. Your tree is much too tall for easier harvesting. If the termite damage is severe, you may want to cut your tree down to 2 feet, which means your only left with rootstock, if your tree survives at all. After cutting down to 2 feet, you can try bark grafts or wait and see if new sprouts form so you can graft the sprouts.


If you don't cut down low enough, your tree will again grow very tall and be difficult to harvest. With the termite damage, you have to be careful that dead or dieing limbs don't break off and injure someone and this is part of the reason in my opinion it may be wise to cut back severely. If termite damage is from the ground up, you may want to start a new tree altogether. I'm not an arborist, this is just my opinion. Best to probably get an assessment from a professionally trained arborist.

Simon
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: Jsvand5 on February 22, 2015, 07:57:48 PM
I'd cut it down to a stump, let the water sprouts shoot up and then re graft it. You could do a couple grafts with type A and type B variety to help your fruit set. Carlos on the forum does it to a lot of trees in his grove. I'm sure he wouldn't do it if it shortened the trees lifespan.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on February 22, 2015, 08:24:35 PM
Thank you all, here are some close up photos of the termite damage. So far people who came to quote would not mind completely removing #4, but topping #2 (the main branch in the middle) is a great concern.

Right now I am debating to cut down #2 #3 #4 almost down to ground, and keeping #1 (very fruitful branch growing sideways)... Would the tree survive?


(http://s30.postimg.cc/46qsrxx59/IMG_20150222_163944_copy.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/46qsrxx59/)

(http://s3.postimg.cc/uwbbok5z3/IMG_20150222_163801_copy.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/uwbbok5z3/)

(http://s11.postimg.cc/y3cd2ckr3/IMG_20150222_163822_copy.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/y3cd2ckr3/)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on February 23, 2015, 02:39:09 PM
Edited the original post to add photos of trunk damage. Upon a closer look maybe the trunk branch #1 is too damaged too. It's been supporting a LOT of weight. I really do want to keep it though...
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: gunnar429 on February 23, 2015, 05:12:49 PM
I'd cut it down to a stump, let the water sprouts shoot up and then re graft it. You could do a couple grafts with type A and type B variety to help your fruit set. Carlos on the forum does it to a lot of trees in his grove. I'm sure he wouldn't do it if it shortened the trees lifespan.
\
+1
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: jcaldeira on February 23, 2015, 05:16:57 PM
I'd cut it down to a stump, let the water sprouts shoot up and then re graft it. You could do a couple grafts with type A and type B variety to help your fruit set. Carlos on the forum does it to a lot of trees in his grove. I'm sure he wouldn't do it if it shortened the trees lifespan.
\
+1
+2
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on February 23, 2015, 05:25:46 PM
Thank you all, I'll take my chances then... tears.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on April 23, 2015, 08:59:43 PM
I'd cut it down to a stump, let the water sprouts shoot up and then re graft it. You could do a couple grafts with type A and type B variety to help your fruit set. Carlos on the forum does it to a lot of trees in his grove. I'm sure he wouldn't do it if it shortened the trees lifespan.

Thank you again. My neighbor has like 9 mature avocado trees. Pollination should not be a problem, haha!

Well, not just one, two large stumps. And the tree is sending out new growth all over the place, including the fuerte branch that we kept. Now I can clearly tell the tree has 2 varieties, as greenwood has totally different colors! Tried to get some grafting done this past weekend. Fingers crossed crossed crossed.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on May 26, 2015, 02:36:18 PM
I had an extended trip and was thinking about my grafts the whole time, LOL!! Overjoyed to see the rootstock side has nice rate of success, while the fuerte side sent out new shoots like crazy, and so far a sharwill managed to take... should I prune off some shoots?
(http://s3.postimg.cc/i2j488tlr/webwxgetmsgimg.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/i2j488tlr/)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on June 10, 2015, 07:36:11 PM
More photos.

JB in the back, then sharwill, then queen. Hope I won't have to make tough decisions in the future regarding which to keep!
(http://s16.postimg.cc/gpsma9o0h/2015_06_10.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/gpsma9o0h/)

On this photo I have three or four reed, one hass, one queen. The JB scion is still hesitating...
(http://s30.postimg.cc/et3ntjp9p/2015_06_10_1.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/et3ntjp9p/)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: simon_grow on June 11, 2015, 01:28:52 AM
Congratulation, job well done. You should just let everything grow out a bit except for the rootstock. If you have multiple branches coming out of your Fuerte or grafted varieties, you can carefully remove some weaker or awkward growing shoots but be careful about injuring nearby new growth.

You may consider tipping known vigorous varieties to establish lower scaffold and fruiting branches.

Simon
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on June 27, 2015, 03:52:22 PM
Thank you Simon!

The tree is coming out with lots of new growth on the remaining fuerte branch (high up there). My mom thinks thinning / training is necessary, I am not sure when to intervene and to what extent?

The grafts are doing OK with 2 exceptions that are overshadowed by their immediate neighbors. Parafilm mostly broke down but the the grafting tape is definitely girdling some faster growers. I untied the knot on one graft today.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on August 03, 2015, 06:28:12 PM
Updates on the avocado tree... My mom trimmed off some "unwanted" growth, including a queen below graft, then went ahead and broke the only remaining queen scion in half. I used grafting tape to wrap the damaged queen, not sure if she can heal itself.


Queen in heavy bandage, haas and another reed in the background
(http://s29.postimg.cc/dyusvvkkj/20150803_150225.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/dyusvvkkj/)


JB and Sharwill in the foreground
(http://s29.postimg.cc/63k9h2axv/20150803_141757.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/63k9h2axv/)


Reeds
(http://s29.postimg.cc/9og50afhf/20150803_150209.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/9og50afhf/)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: socal10b on August 03, 2015, 07:36:31 PM
thanks for the update Jane, those grafts look great and good job  8)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: simon_grow on August 03, 2015, 09:05:05 PM
Nice updates, you will soon have lots of different varieties of Avocado to harvest.

Simon
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on August 03, 2015, 09:15:47 PM
Thank you so much @socal10b @simon_grow

I am unable to visualize all the grafts turning into tree branches!
The goal is to keep them manageable, but how?  ;D
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: simon_grow on August 04, 2015, 08:57:40 AM
The Reeds are easy to control, they grow vertically but do not spread out very wide. Most other varieties will get quite tall and wide. It depends on what you are trying to accomplish, tall narrow tree or short and wide? I prefer short and wide trees for ease of harvesting so I simply cut the central leader to redirect energy. After about one season, one or more central leaders may pop up so you will have to repeat. If you want to control an avocado tree, it will require at least annual pruning.

Simon
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: fyliu on August 04, 2015, 03:35:35 PM
Haha, my mom trims trees heavily during the summer too, and doesn't care if it leads to sun burn  of the branches once the leaves are gone. Add some white paint if anything's exposed on the south side.

The queen is the only branch with a fruit hanging for me so there's no chance it'll get trimmed by mistake, even if it's newly grafted. Hope yours will heal.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on October 13, 2015, 11:17:36 PM
Newest update on my avocado.
The half-broken queen is healing, but somewhat overshadowed by super-vigorous hass.
Reeds are all OK, just growing in awkward positions because the way they were grafted. JB seems happy.
Sharwill... likely has the tastiest leaves and seems the most uncertain, but still pushing out new growth.

(I feel the strong verge of whacking the fuerte branch again, still too tall to manage down the road...)

(http://s7.postimg.cc/mozh4i23b/20151012_102945.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/mozh4i23b/)

(http://s3.postimg.cc/u2af6mlmn/20151012_102957.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/u2af6mlmn/)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on February 23, 2016, 08:44:51 PM
Coming back to report that I did not further trim the Fuerte branch, decided to let it grow, let it grow... for now.

Fuerte is in FULL BLOOM attracting tons of bees, fingers crossed for good harvest later this year.

JB and Sharwill are trying to bloom. I may end up removing the fruits to encourage vegetative growth. (Also afraid the graft is not strong enough).
Hass and Reed seem to be the most vigorous growers. Queen (shadowed by Hass) still hanging on.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on April 18, 2016, 06:51:51 PM
Grafts are blooming heavily too. Sharwill and JB have dozens of tiny fruitlets hanging already. Will they drop themselves to a safe level or should I step in to thin them? If so, when? It's been a journey growing with these grafts!
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on June 02, 2016, 03:45:09 PM
Sharwill seems to be a heavy producer. Too many fruits compared to the branch size.
When is a good time to thin avocados?
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on December 21, 2016, 04:18:11 PM
I did not bother to thin anything. Avocados manage themselves well. Except the tree branches seems to grow in all directions, I may need some one experienced to advise me how to trim it down the road...

Alleged "Haas" branch turns out to be giving me round avocados, I guess it's a Reed after all? LOL no complaints!
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on March 14, 2017, 03:01:47 AM
23 months passed since the grafting process:

Fuerte (original branch) produced well this year.
Sharwill had maybe 3-4 fruits from a relatively small graft
Reed had maybe 4-5 fruits between 3 grafts, they seem to grow relatively dominant
Jan Boyce flowers heavily right now (alarming that no fruits set from last year's bloom)
Can't remember what is queen doing, slightly shadowed by reed
No Hass graft after all
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: simon_grow on March 14, 2017, 08:27:40 AM
Congratulations on getting fruits from Few of your grafted varieties. Watch out for the Fuerte, it can get out of hand very fast.

Simon
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on March 14, 2017, 02:42:37 PM
Reed and fuerte both growing fast, sigh.
Oh correction, JB did produce one fruit.


(https://s8.postimg.cc/5j7cywiyp/31970301262793316.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/5j7cywiyp/)

(https://s21.postimg.cc/ywu53c4lf/209591945312725130.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/ywu53c4lf/)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: Dennis_No_Frost on March 14, 2017, 03:50:12 PM
Congratulations, indeed.  Seeing your result give me some hope, I been meaning to do something similar to my unknown avocado tree for a while now.  Only problem is, I think tree is way too large now.

(https://s8.postimg.cc/ja0ulzdc1/28910.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/ja0ulzdc1/)

(https://s8.postimg.cc/8ogz9z70h/28913.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/8ogz9z70h/)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: fyliu on March 15, 2017, 12:11:07 AM
You'll lose a few years of fruit but it should come back if you stump it and paint it with dilute latex paint to protect against sunburn. That's what commercial growers in SD did when we had drought weather. Stump their trees to reduce water and then return to normal production in 3 years.

The only thing is the work it'll take you to cut that tree.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on March 15, 2017, 12:41:22 AM
The only thing is the work it'll take you to cut that tree.

Or $$
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: othater on March 20, 2017, 10:39:59 PM
funlul,
That's great your grafts worked out and now fruiting.
The past 2 years went fast.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: ScottR on March 21, 2017, 11:14:36 AM
Nice job Funlul, your harvesting your en-joyful works  ;)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on June 22, 2017, 03:49:53 PM
New varieties added to the tree after major trimming: hass (April) and suspected mexicola Grande (May). Fingers crossed they continue to grow well. This avocado tree is amazingly tolerant with me. Knock on wood.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on August 15, 2017, 12:45:22 AM
Fuerte branch received a major pruning earlier this year and understandably has much fewer fruits this season. I hope to always remove new shoots from that cut and not suffer major production losses in the future.

Reed is crazily loaded: there are newer branches almost touching the ground.

Jan Boyce also produces well considering its size.

Sharwill, to my surprise, is either alternate bearing, or shadowed by nearby fuerte branches. Last year a smaller branch had quite few fruits. Just made some room for it.

Queen: poor thing was nearly broken as a new graft, never attempted to flower and will be removed.

Hass and mexicola grande: made room for these new grafts, hoping they can flower next season.

Maybe there is hope I'll soon have year around avocado. Telling my parents when to pick what, is a different story!!
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on February 05, 2018, 01:14:09 PM
Continuing the updates...

General growth and fruits:
Fuerte: I removed new branches from the top easily, just needed good eye sight! Because of limited production after heavy pruning, this year's fruits are very large.
Jan Boyce: it was expected to ripen later than fuerte, but I think it's kind of ready in January and drops some fruits, and skin habitually cracks open (see photo). They will be eaten first.
Sharwill: growing more after I cleared some room for it.
Mexicola grande (suspected):  fast vigorous grower!
Reed: late season heavy producer, complements other varieties well.

Next year's flowers:
Fuerte: full bloom, earliest of my varieties.
Mexicola: OMG it's flowering! I don't know if these thin branches are capable to support fruiting in one year's time yet, will monitor closely.
JB, Sharwill: noticed buds.
Reed: no flower yet, late babies.


(https://s18.postimg.cc/bapqnfdad/pt2018_02_04_22_03_28_mh1517810759186.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/bapqnfdad/)

(https://s18.postimg.cc/l9ap9x25h/2017896406705527223.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/l9ap9x25h/)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on April 05, 2018, 12:37:25 AM
Tree is doing well.

(https://s31.postimg.cc/4cevxb547/pt2018_04_04_18_23_50_mh1522891571170.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/4cevxb547/)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on April 05, 2018, 03:37:43 PM
Oh and I finally removed the struggling queen branch (graft got half broken by accident but continued to grow).

In terms of vigor, for my tree Fuerte ~ Reed ~ Mexicola > Jan Boyce >> Sharwill. One year old Mexicola (suspected) shoots up for the sky and is already much taller than three year old Sharwill (which is not quite able to support itself upright).
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: spaugh on April 05, 2018, 04:21:39 PM
Fuerte is a beast.  Nice pics, nice tree
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on April 21, 2018, 08:09:07 PM
Took photos of the baby cados today. Reed only recently started blooming and I was surprised to see fruitlets. Glad to see Sharwill producing again. Fingers crossed mexicola will grow strong enough to handle those fruits.

(https://s31.postimg.cc/hsj1i2wc7/pt2018_04_21_16_52_36_mh1524354891376.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/hsj1i2wc7/)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on August 11, 2018, 10:20:04 AM
Another update on this multi-graft tree. I came home from an extended trip to find out I lost 70% of next year's avocados to extreme SoCal heatwave. Did not check very carefully, but fuerte appears to be the only one that still holds small fruits, baby Reed/JB/Sharwill either completely disappeared, or dried up and turned black.

I don't know if it's each variety's specific heat-tolerance or the tree's strategic plan to save the bigger fruits as fuerte fruited somewhat earlier than others.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: ScottR on August 11, 2018, 10:40:36 AM
Thanks for updates Funlul, sorry to hear of your fruit loss but something our tree's and we have to deal with now climate extremes ::) ??? ::) ;)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: Orkine on August 11, 2018, 10:45:29 AM
Ditto, looks like the heat did a number on mango too from what I read on the forum.

Do keep posting update. 
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on August 11, 2018, 11:28:24 AM
It's a super direct comparison actually. JB has most the mummy babies hanging on the tree. No trace at all for the reed and sharwill babies. Different varieties, different approaches.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on March 05, 2019, 04:39:09 PM
SoCal had a cold and rainy winter, even avocado hesitates to bloom. Due to 2018 summer heat, I had maybe 30% of the usual Fuerte and exactly one JB fruit surviving. Reed / Sharwill / Mexicola fruits all wiped out by the heat.

In terms of relative tree size, roughly Fuerte 50%, Reed 30%, Mexicola 8%, JB 8%, Sharwill 4% -- does my math add up? Mexicola is quite vigorous, shame on you Sharwill!!!

(https://i.postimg.cc/gLxQqBvg/Avocado-graft-1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gLxQqBvg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/Z0nGS016/Avocado-graft-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Z0nGS016)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on January 22, 2020, 05:16:55 PM
Here is the tree after latest trimming, trying all I could to keep fuerte from overgrowing again.
Trimmed Mexicola (?) in half as I don't have much faith in its super thin skin, got exactly one fruit this year.
The center of the tree is still mostly empty, I grafted a few hass to see if it could fill in (both the space and harvest season)

(https://i.postimg.cc/1fStKLzb/mmexport1577915800058.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1fStKLzb)

Harvest report:
- Fuerte: off year with 1/2 production, which I understand as last harvest season was all fuerte (2018 summer heat wiped out everything else)
- Reed: big year, another 6 months away
- Jan Boyce: decent harvest, skin still cracks in rain season
- Sharwill: I really want to remove it. Barely grows and exactly one fruit
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: JustenGlad on June 01, 2020, 10:49:18 AM
Do you hire any tree trimming (https://newagetreeservice.com/) expert to trim the branches or you have done it on your own?
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on June 12, 2020, 12:42:39 AM
Do you hire any tree trimming (https://newagetreeservice.com/) expert to trim the branches or you have done it on your own?
Major trimming definitely done by tree companies.
Nowadays I could keep the tree at the same height by myself.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: JacksonWade on July 16, 2020, 08:41:49 AM
An aborist or tree removal (https://treeservicebroward.com/) expert will definitely know the things about a particular tree and the fruit. When they will grow and when to take it out from the trees.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on January 16, 2021, 03:04:27 AM
Besides mom complaining on-and-off about less production (well the tree IS much smaller compared to before), I am really happy with what I have after nearly 6 years. Thanks to everyone's great tips and my friend's generosity with scions.

This year reed had less production, poor tree probably tried to distribute energy.
Jan Boyce on the other hand is fully loaded and cracked much less.
Sharwill has exactly one fruit, not able to keep up with other varieties at all.
I trimmed off Mexicola's large branch and left only a little bit of it, no fruit formed from flowers.
Good news, I finally grafted hass last spring and it shoots for the sky, successfully filling the center void. Let's see if it will flower soon.
I also grafted 2x gem branches but they are really shaded by hass thus barely growing.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: AnneColeman on July 19, 2021, 10:45:33 AM
I see you understand this. It happened to me that the tree stopped letting its leaves altogether. Apparently I am that still a gardener, I took care of the tree incorrectly. I decided that there was no point in saving and that I needed to dig it up. So remove, to plant a new one. The professionals from Tree Service Antioch CA (http://www.dougstreeserviceantioch.com/) helped a lot. Before that, I cut down a tree, but then I realized that I could not cope with it myself. Now a nut is growing in that place. Everything is done for the best. If this happens, it is better to immediately contact those who are good at it.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: simon_grow on July 19, 2021, 02:38:12 PM
Congratulations on the success of converting your tree over the years. The Fuerte will continue to get larger and dominate the other varieties even more unless it is thoughtfully pruned.

You could severely prune back the Fuerte and then topwork the apical tips with Sharwil or another variety.

Simon
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on December 31, 2022, 02:33:59 AM
The fruits distribution is roughly like this

35% Fuerte
30% Reed
15% Jan Boyce
15% Hass
5% misc

Sharwill was grafted at the very beginning but never produced more than one or two fruits. Hass is heavily loaded as a new comer.

The tree gets trimmed every single winter to keep the height under control. It's a full day project but manageable.
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: ScottR on December 31, 2022, 11:00:23 AM
Thanks for posting great time line of top workering your tree sounds like you've got a multi-grafted nice avocado now congrats. 8)
Title: Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
Post by: funlul on December 31, 2022, 07:25:52 PM
Thank you very much, yes I am very happy with the multi graft. It's a very compact tree now, the harvest season is much longer than before. No more costly major pruning = steady production within picker's reach.

Mexicola grande found a chance and grew a lot again, I will see how it fits in the harvest window. (Essentially looking for very early or very late varieties.) Gem and lamb hass grafts are growing slowly and it's OK.