Why not do a whip and tonguie graft now, while the tree is actively growing? Wrap the scion inm parafilm, and put a white bag or tin-foil over it to help keep it cool. Grafting works best when there is active growth.

Or do a chip or T-bud now -- that is how nearly all the commercial nurseries propagate the trees you buy. When you collect the wood make sure there are dormant buds at the leaf bases, and cut off the leaves back to about 1/8" (leave the very base of the leaf attached). This wood is called "budwood".

Speaking of budding, one of my apples is dying from the roots and I should go grab some budwood from the tips now before the whole tree dies, and graft it to another tree.

Scott

I'd think a chip or t-bud would be the ticket right not.

I love whip and tongue on pear grafts though. You might try doing a w&t with a chip or t-bud backup. If the w&t fails the bud will be forced, and might even emerge as well as the main graft.

Good luck. It's too bad about your problems, but I agree with Pitangadiego and Scott- it's too soon to compost your pear.

You might also find a host tree somewhere to "park" a few chip buds on for next year, so if your heirloom tree should die over the winter you'd still have a source.

M

What pitangadiego said. Whip and tongue graft them now. They may not grow ANY this fall, but the graft wound will heal and then they would start growing at the right time next spring. Keep them moderately watered if doing this.

I would not trash the rootstocks if they are re-growing ok. Just try to find scion wood pieces that are the same diameter as your rootstock sprouts to ensure grafting success and proper healing.

Also, since you are trying to do a rescue, think about taking scionwood now and graft them to ANY other pear tree you can think of within a 20 mile radius of you. That would at least keep the pear going, if your rescue tree is in immediate danger of becoming extinct!

You could even send fresh scionwood to someone at this forum so they could help you back up that tree. It has been done before, and only costs $4 in Priority Mail postage. Gets to the destination in usually two days.