reclaimed tree-FAQ
1,074 views · Published 4 April 2010 · 1:36 · Indexed 6 October 2026
Channel: Stephen Hayes · 2010 · Education
A common question is=what do I do with this fruit tree that seems to be in a bad way, for whatever reason? One answer is to saw it down below the level of the disease or deformity and see what grows back. You can graft a desired variety on to strong regrowth from the root stock. I have done this successfully more than once. This particular tree, a 10 year old Laxton's Epicure on MM106, was cut off a foot above ground level 2 years ago, due to disease penetrating a fissure in the bark due to aerial roots and the tree falling over at a very bad angle. I think this problem resulted from the stock being grown surrounded by weeds and grass, which kept it wet leading to aerial roots, not ideal obviously-but this is 'enthusiastic but too-busy amateur' reality, not professional perfection for the cameras. Anyway, the remnant stump should have been dug up but was forgotten-we always have too much to do and jobs often get left in an unplanned way. The roots have, as you can see, sent up several vigorous and healthy new growth. This has some potential, and I plan to use this as an opportunity to demonstrate one of the techiniques that can be used to reclaim a wrecked tree. see next video.
