1
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: It's my first time grafting
« on: January 14, 2025, 12:00:07 PM »
Might be a good idea to wrap the unions with something to give them a little more strength; once the branches start bending with fruit, any weak spots in the union could cost you the branch. I do it pretty habitually on all my unions once I remove the grafting plastic wrap; it makes for a prettier union scar and there's no worry of one side separating (there's no need to trim deadwood, either).
Spaugh had recommended Texas Roll Flagging tape awhile back for grafting, so I picked up a roll to test it out. I don't like it for grafting, but it is perfect for what I am recommending here. It'll give you a nice, tight wrap, but it also has give to it. I imagine you could wrap it too thick and cause the branch to girdle, but I've never had it happen (don't tie it off tight, try to allow some give/expansion). The tape expands over time with the branch, so I don't have to twice about it for a year or two and then remove it for good. It comes in a bunch of colors, so you could use it to differentiate different varieties or seasons/years the grafts were made, etc.,.
Spaugh had recommended Texas Roll Flagging tape awhile back for grafting, so I picked up a roll to test it out. I don't like it for grafting, but it is perfect for what I am recommending here. It'll give you a nice, tight wrap, but it also has give to it. I imagine you could wrap it too thick and cause the branch to girdle, but I've never had it happen (don't tie it off tight, try to allow some give/expansion). The tape expands over time with the branch, so I don't have to twice about it for a year or two and then remove it for good. It comes in a bunch of colors, so you could use it to differentiate different varieties or seasons/years the grafts were made, etc.,.