Brother, I think you were right the first time; it is a graft. That shoot is the root stock. The leaves are very similar, but the pink in the new growth is distinct. You’ll probably see a bigger difference if/when it flowers. I’d lose that bottom shoot and keep the tree focusing on the upper branches and canopy. I dig this tree, brother!
Thanks! And yeah I can't figure out if it is or not. It sure looks like it though. The bark is so distinctly smooth on the upper tru k compared with the lower. I'm going to do some homework and see if I can figure it out.
Man you cut a lot off. Heavy prune, heavy growth. Can’t wait to see what it does. How much die back does it have where you cut the top off at? Do you want it to seal over? Or create a dead spot?
Yeah I hadn't really planned on going that heavy. It just sort of went that way the deeper I got. It's only about the second time I can remember pruning this so I hope it does okay. It took the last trunk job okay so I imagine it will.
It definitely looks like a graft to me too. What's throwing me off is how the leaves are so similar. I'm half tempted to lose the graft part and just stick with the root stock.
@@BonsaiBoise - since you're not looking for fruit production, why not? It would give you a thick base to cut it down that low. I have a ficus graft that I was considering the same thing.
Got 4 similar crabapples, 2 red and 2 white, on clearance from Home Depot in July. They have similar grafts, so I'm planning to air layer this spring. Hopefully each one will produce several trees without the grafts. Good luck with yours.
Brother, I think you were right the first time; it is a graft. That shoot is the root stock. The leaves are very similar, but the pink in the new growth is distinct. You’ll probably see a bigger difference if/when it flowers.
I’d lose that bottom shoot and keep the tree focusing on the upper branches and canopy.
I dig this tree, brother!
Thanks! And yeah I can't figure out if it is or not. It sure looks like it though. The bark is so distinctly smooth on the upper tru k compared with the lower. I'm going to do some homework and see if I can figure it out.
Those are some MEGA chops Mike but all good cuts.. Will be cool to see how it grows from this 👍👌
On this one, I seem to just let it grow way out, then chop it way back once a year. So far it's handled it like a champ, but time will tell I guess.
I would cut it back to that very first small lower branch... get some movement in the trunk!
Yikes! That might be a little too much for my risk tolerance right now.
Cut for the future. Somtimes we need take chances
nice tree. does kinda look grafted. most mass sold apple trees are usually a graft i always thought. thanks mike
Thanks Mike! Makes me wonder what the rootstock is. Maybe just a regular appletree?
Man you cut a lot off. Heavy prune, heavy growth. Can’t wait to see what it does. How much die back does it have where you cut the top off at? Do you want it to seal over? Or create a dead spot?
Yeah I hadn't really planned on going that heavy. It just sort of went that way the deeper I got. It's only about the second time I can remember pruning this so I hope it does okay. It took the last trunk job okay so I imagine it will.
I think you were right that it is a graft - almost all commercial apple trees seem to be grafts onto tougher root stock.
It definitely looks like a graft to me too. What's throwing me off is how the leaves are so similar. I'm half tempted to lose the graft part and just stick with the root stock.
@@BonsaiBoise - since you're not looking for fruit production, why not? It would give you a thick base to cut it down that low. I have a ficus graft that I was considering the same thing.
Got 4 similar crabapples, 2 red and 2 white, on clearance from Home Depot in July. They have similar grafts, so I'm planning to air layer this spring. Hopefully each one will produce several trees without the grafts. Good luck with yours.
Nice score!
4th! First thumbs up! Lol
Winner!
It's a graft
Yep
@@BonsaiBoise excellent video