Well, the important things came through fine (husband, house, cat, electricity, running water).
Some of the fun stuff, not so good. No cable. Which means no internet. Which means I had to find a public place to use the web and e-mail relatives to let them know we haven't been sent tumbling off to Oklahoma by any hurricane force winds.
Most of the damage in the garden was minor. Potted plants were all sheltered and/or turned on their sides, so nothing in containers blew away.
Treewise, things are a little more interesting. Our larger trees (the ones that would be really dangerous if they fell) appear fine, having only dropped a few small to medium-size branches. Amazingly, none of these damaged the house. Other people in our subdivision did not fare so well. Some have similar-sized trees that fell on their homes.
My little trees are interesting cases. The Methley Plum is still shorter than I am, and planted in a protected area, so it appears untouched. The fig and the pomegranate were slightly uprooted, so fixing them should not be too difficult.
The worst damage was to my Saigo (Saijo?) Persimmon tree, which was snapped like a toothpick just above the graft. It was not broken off entirely though. About half of the trunk is still attached. Even though it is nearly four days after the fact, it still looks alive. The rootstock appears fairly healthy, and (as I was told at the plant sale where I got it) has pretty good structure. I hate to let even part of a good plant go to waste.
I have no idea what to do about this. Stand it back up, and see if it heals? Take cuttings and re-graft? (Which means I have to learn how to graft, and fast.) Call a tree expert? Go back to the plant sales and replace?
Since the next major plant sale around here isn't till January (and will likely be very crowded, since I'm sure many people lost fruit trees to Ike), I figure I have nothing to lose by trying.
I just wish I knew what to try.
Ideas, anyone?
The outdoor adventures of a California native putting down roots along the Texas Gulf Coast.
5 comments:
For now, perhaps keep the part attached, and bind/wrap with some cloth tape. Then, get to a real nursery, like Tea's and get some real advice....'cause I'm just guessing here.
Still, it doesn't hurt. If the graft is still viable, it may rebud just below the break, but above the graft.
Hope springs...
PS: I'm glad your garden came thru this unpleasantness fairly unscathed except for the one tree...as heart breaking as it is. I think most of my plants will recover, even the ones that have been temporarily...unclothed...
Unfortunately, it broke *right* above the graft. If any budding goes on, it will be from the rootstock, which I suspect is a native persimmon. Those can get up to 70 feet tall!
I have heard of people having young trees recover from similar injuries, but we shall see. Right now the break is wrapped in grafting tape and the tree is very firmly staked.
You are right, though. Getting some real advice from a competent nursery person would be a great idea. :)
One of my redbuds snapped and I thought I'd wait and see what the tree wanted to do. Grafted fruit trees are more complicated, I know. I'd be interested to know what the experts told you. It's good that your garden is mostly okay!
BTW thanks for adding my blog to your list. Glad you enjoy it.
You're weclome, Mary!
Unfortunately, it is looking like experts may be a unnecessary at this point. The tree began wilting rather dramatically a couple of days ago. As my husband put it, "that's probably a symptom of being dead."
The rootstock is still good, though, so if anyone knows where I might get a good cutting of Saigo persimmon for grafting, feel free to let me know! I'd hate to let good rootstock go to waste.
Otherwise, I will probably be hitting the fruit tree sales this winter.
Post a Comment