Hi David

First of all do you have any experience in grafting? If not then hopefully you know of someone who can help you out with it. I'll share some of the ways I have seen it done.

My wifes uncle who used to manage a large avocado orchard in Carpenteria should me once how to top work a tree. He cut it to a 3 foot stump and then did a bark graft. He put about 4 scions around the top of the cut and aligned up the cambiums, wrapped it real good and sealed it with tree seal and all 4 developed into 4 healthy new limbs. I havent tried this method but have seen it done alot with good results.

Another way I have seen done by a local grower here is to change individual limbs to any variety you want. He cuts a limb back then will do either a whip or cleft graft onto the limb. One thing he stresses is when selecting your scion wood to use the tip instead of say a middle or bottom section. He says they almost always take. The few cleft grafted trees that I have managed to have take have all had a piece of tip wood.

Since your in Ventura you might want to get ahold of Brokaw Nursery in Saticoy. I'll bet they can help you.

William Visalia Ca

The above followup was added by William on December 27, 2003 at 7:24 am PST.

David

If I was going to top dress a tree from scratch, I would definitely look at adding a different variety to each limb you change over.

Avocados trees can get real huge and they can easily produce more fruit then you know what to do with. But by carefully selecting your varieties you could spread out the harvest, and enjoy more varieties as well.

I have limited yard space, for all of the things I want to plant, so I am multi budding all of the trees I can.

David

The above followup was added by David, Waterford CA, zone9 on December 27, 2003 at 12:44 am PST.

I am growing and grafting several fruit trees.

The above followup was added by Arthur Nunez on August 19, 2004 at 3:38 pm PST.