Tried to air-layer a maple branch and it snapped off after 3 weeks

I was doing an air-layer on a decent sized Norway maple branch back in June. Wrapped it up with sphagnum and foil, checked it weekly. After 3 weeks I went to tighten the wrap and the whole thing cracked right off at the cut. Lost a branch that would have made a solid 4 foot tree. My buddy Dave said I cut too deep on the girdle but I followed a YouTube video exactly. Anyone else have air-layers fail because the branch wasn't strong enough to hold?

2 comments

2 Comments

wesleyburns2d ago

Yeah Dave's probably right, too deep a girdle makes the branch weak and snap off under its own weight.

paul_morgan2d ago

Wait, people actually girdle trees that deep?