My Mother has a tree in her yard. It was there when she bought the house just under a year ago. It definately needs tending to. I'll fertilize and check ph. Also it has dead branches, and has had very little fruit / or new growth. I need to know the proper way to trim the dead branches. I assume I just cut where the dead begins? Also I read somewhere (can't find where) that at a certain size (of branch removal) you need to put "something" on the tree where you cut to protect it. What is this "something" and at what size of branch removal do I need to apply it?

Thanks

Yes, last year's hurricanes have caused more dead wood in trees than I remember ever seeing in the past. And you're right -- cut back to live wood. If you want to do any shaping or size control, that's up to you -- citrus really doesn't mind where you prune it.

As for wound dressings, they are NOT recommended on any size cut, ever. If you are removing a major limb, just be sure the cut is clean and smooth, and that you leave the cambial collar (the "bump" at the base of the limb), rather than cutting straight down in line with the contour of the rest of the trunk.

Malcolm

Thank you. I'm hoping to get to her place this weekend. I want to get started as soon as possible. Hoping to get her some real fruit this year. Appreciate your help.

Well, Wish me luck. I leave for my Mom's tomorrow and I told her that I will be trimming her tree, and fertilizing and checking for pests. I bought some tools for the tree and I am going to take some bud wood home with me. Now. The big question is how exactly do I identify bub wood? I am going to ask her neighbors if they know what trees my Mom has since they have been there for many years and my Mom keeps saying "I forget to ask". Her neighbors also have different kinds of citrus and I'm going to ask if I can take some bud wood. If someone can answer my "bud wood" ??? Also, I will be more than happy to send anyone who wants some. I'll let you know what I get. Oh, yeah another??? How do I preserve the bud wood once it is cut?

Thanks

I believe in FL it is against the law to bud your own citrus without the proper license... But if your going to do it, Take wood from the next to last growth flush & don't use the first three bud eyes. You can keep the wood in a plastic bag with a moist paper towel in the frig.

How do I find out how to do it the legal way? Do I take it to a nursery and have them do it?

Thanks

Try emailing Malcolm Manners above. He should have the info you need.

Hey MALCOM

How can I leaglly graft here in Florida? I would like to learn to do it myself is there some sort of way to get certified or something?

Thanks

O.K. I found out that I just need to make sure that I get certified bud wood and keep the paper work on it and if I want I can take a master gardeners class to learn how to graft, but is not required.

Thanks

Disneygirl, if I were you, I'd just do it. I mean, it's your mother's tree that you will graft for yourself & not for profit. Sounds like so much work for something so simple - just don't tell anyone LOL
Here a link or 2 about T budding. You won't have to take a master gardeners class. What roostock will you use?
Patty
An intro to grafting:
http://classes.aces.uiuc.edu/NRES103/tbud/

From JoeReal on cleft grafting:
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4148728&a=31606026&f=

My favorite with good pics & details:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/citrus/budding/budding.htm

Patty: Thank you so much for the good source on T budding. I learned quiete a few pointers today.
Benny

Thanks. I am going to read every one of them and get a good look at each and every picture and still probably have ??'ss. I won't attempt unitil I am positive about what I'm doing. Don't want to hurt any of my babies. But the way I trimmed my Mom's tangerine tree and it now looks ALIVE. I did about 3/4 of her orange tree, I'll have to finish that one next time. I also took all of the grass and everything away from the tree and gave fertilizer and a good watering. I'll see it again next week.Thankfully she is not infested with any kind of pests. Her neighbor is not so lucky. He asked me to take a look and he is absolutely INFESTED with scale. Anyways, that's all folks.

Thank you.

To gain experience without ruining your citrus, practice a lot on roses, pears, apples, plums and peach bracnhes that were pruned. If there are none, go and ask stems from your neighbors and in the comfort of your kitchen, practice budding several times before doing it on the real thing. your citruses.

Excellent idea, Thanks. I really, really don't want to do anything to harm or potentially harm my citrus trees. My husband has been making fun of me (good humored) lately. My kitchen and patio is covered with all sorts of things growing and I want more.



Thanks

Your very welcome Benny & Disneygirl.
Makes me feel good that I contributed to helping someone learn. And, thanks to JoeReal too.
Here I thought Benny knew all there is to know about T budding LOL.
Isn't that 3rd site great with the detailed pics & info on T budding???
This is where I learned about grafting & T budding & then I watched Ned Rahn do it at the expo--what a treat! Will try it when my rootstock gets a little bigger but I know I can do it. There are so many ways of grafting.
Gonna try it soon.
Patty