Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
plants, something to remember in our own
lives! Just as removing a branch at the correct
point stimulates the branch collar to heal
over a wound, notching and scoring can
produce growth on an existing stem. It can
initiate new branches, stimulate the growth
of more flowering/fruiting wood or in some
cases promote fruitfulness throughout the
whole tree.
Tools
Use a bluntish knife (yes, blunt) to cut away a
piece of bark, or a saw can be used just drawn
across the section of stem above the bud. A
saw will leave a ragged wound that will be
slower to heal/grow over. The blunt knife will
also produce a wound slow to heal. A slow
healing wound is an advantage in this
situation, as the longer the wound takes to
heal the more effective is the interruption of
the cambium's flow. On really young wood, a
fingernail will do the job.
Figure 3.26
This small strip is all that is required to
interrupt the flow of the cambium (top). The growth point
is fed (bottom) by the phloem without the inhibiting auxin
from the apical bud. See page 2.
Technique
This technique works best on reasonably
young wood up to one year old. If you wish to
activate an existing bud into growth on a long
stem, cut away a strip of bark or cut with a saw
(deep enough to cut the cambium) just above
the bud from which you want the new branch
to spring (see Figure 3.26).
bud and about the same distance from the
top of the bud is all that is required.
Alternatively, a saw cut or a fingernail will be
sufficient to interrupt the flow of the
cambium. As the growth-inhibiting hormone
is diverted around the bud, the movement of
the nutrient-rich phloem (see pages 1 and 2)
feeds the growth point.
As the apical bud (see page 3) produces
hormones that inhibit the growth of buds
below it, removing the cambium at this point
interrupts the flow of these hormones (see
page 2) allowing the bud to develop into a
stem. Removing a strip of bark 3 to 5 mm
wide that extends just beyond the width of the
Conversely, a notch made just below a bud or
branching stem will slow the growth from this
point. This can be useful to reduce the
growth of an over-vigorous side shoot.
