Prunus Advice

[jehsiboi]

So I just bought two dwarf peach trees and a mt fuji cherry tree from the local nursery. Completely new to them so any tips on keeping them healthy would be apreciated. My question is however the flowering genus of the trees are quite obviously grafted onto a stock trunk that is quite long. In the future what would be the best way to rectify this? could you air layer underneath the graft or graft the flowering prunus lower on the trunk? or should I just try to propergate the cuttings I take from this when pruning and keep this as a parent garden tree?

photos for reference.

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Jesse

[TimS]

I'd be interested to know more about cutting timing, there is a Mt Fuji and a Kanzan in the garden at my house i'd like to have a crack at. Still dormant but not far away from waking up

[shibui]

Peaches are normally grafted onto seedling root stock. I had always assumed that was because peach does not strike well but it turns out they can strike as cuttings so you could try some when pruning. Dormant cuttings are easiest because you don't need to worry about humididy so much in winter.
You can also try leafy cuttings later in spring and summer but you will need to manage humidity with some misting or a cover over the cuttings.

I have not heard about layering peaches but I assume it can be done. That would be the best way to manage that long root stock.

Prunus is a big and diverse family. Plums are prunus and generally very easy to strike cuttings and layers. Cherries are a little more challenging but can also strike roots. Some varieties are really easy, others don't strike quite so well. Most cherries will be grafted onto a cherry root stock but those stocks are pretty easy to strike and should layer really easy.

[TimS]

Thanks Neil, i'll give the cherry cuttings a go not expecting any great result, but the Kanzan will be removed from the garden shortly so i may as well try.

[KIRKY]

If its being removed why not try some air layers? Just don’t go too thick they don’t take well and will more than likely die after removal. You will have better success with the thinner branches.
Cheers
Kirky