Moving along...

Keith what are your thoughts on using A. frima in zone 5? It appears this may perform much better in clay like soils.

I wonder if the scion has a bud hardiness of lets say zone 5 or lower so you might be doing ok ecspecially if in an area with more extended snow cover.

Whaas,

Good question. I have not given it a lot of thought. I have a couple of firs from Carl on firma in pots that I will plant out this year. Since I have been in IA, my winters have not been Z5 winters, but it is the outlier that kills things.

We do not have reliable snow cover here.

This thread makes me think you will be OK on firma in Z5

Keith

Here is a link that might be useful: older thread on firma hardiness as rootstock

Maybe Dax can give us an update since its been 5 years!

Thanks, That grafting page had some good info and pics. I bookmarked it.

Only thing that should be noted is that when grafting dwarfs such as Pinus parviflora 'Pygmy Yatsubusa' (you) don't want the vigorous shoots but rather the non-vigorous shoots only, those typically taken from the sides of the plants.

Vigorous shoots are sought for large-growing conifers and intermediate-growing.

The firma ordeal is what it is. It's used for people who have failed to grow firs in either the south or climates where folks have failed trying to grow them. I had a firma seedling for three years in the ground (zone 7) and I bought a new mower last year that took time to learn to drive & naturally I bashed into it and destroyed it. So I think firma is root-hardy, no question, & I've had in the ground Abies firma 'Golden Hue' for at least three years which Stanley & Sons says is zone 5 hardy. I didn't graft it so I cannot comment on the understock that was used.

Dax

Great step by step tutorial there!

Also interesting about the tree wound product. Thanks for the link!