Has anyone succeeded? A family member has a mature Texas mountain laurel (TML). Low hanging branches started to form 2 years ago are now the pencil thickness. He plans to remove them all. If TML can be air layed, even at a low percentage success rate, I would like to give it a try. Please advise. Thank you.

.... no reason that I can think of why it can't be layered. Need help?

AL

Thank you for the encouragement. I will give it a try. Being such a slower grower (and slow rooter) could be the reason why I have not hit a single air layering post on internet.

I will check in 2-3 months if roots are formed.

Typically, you'd layer a branch that received more light - faster and greater probability of success. I was thinking you were going to layer one of the larger woody branches, like the larger one above moving to the right.

Make sure you check moisture levels inside the container from time to time. Good luck!

Al

Thank you for the advice. I will do another one, woody, thicker, and more light.

Second one.

Strong work! Is this the approximate method you used?


Al

I think I did. Are the zip ties there on purpose?

Double post. Please delete

Sorry - I actually went out in the middle of winter to make a layer and get an image to show someone on another forum site how to prepare a layer. I was talking about the ringed bark method and the tourniquet method. It was cold enough that I thought I'd kill 2 birds with one stone ...... so the zip ties are a form of a tourniquet. Like the wire on the second image of this Japanese maple layered off of it's ugly seedling roots

See the old root mass below the upper roots?


Here, the lower root mass has been removed by sawing through the former trunk just below the layer. The wire tourniquet is still in place and has served its purpose.


You can even get roots to grow exactly where you want them to be, as they are in the image above. This is how I did that:

Roots of trees grown from seeds are usually always ugly and one-sided. Roots of cuttings (and layers) are usually much, much better.

Al

Update:

It's been 3 months since air layeing. The upper branch dried and died from excessive heat here in Dallas TX. The lower branch is still alive (shaded from the scorching sun) and new roots were noticed. I plan to keep the mud ball a while longer for more roots to develop. Thank you.

Good deal, @Rupertlee Keep us posted with regard to how it goes when you separate the layer from the tree.

Al

After 4 months the branch was separated. Here is the photo. Do I need to remove more leaves? The main branch is about 4' long. Please advise. Thank you.

It's sitting in the full shade. I am misting the leaves several times a day. Temp is still in upper 90's, eventually to 80's in 2-3 days.

Being that you still have a lot of hot weather coming your way, and not much of a root system, I would prune it back to prevent total collapse of the propagule. One thing I would do is remove one one of the 3 lowest branches, left or right - not the middle. I know it's a shrubby plant, but it will look better if you eliminate one of the 3 branches wherever you discover a trifurcation.


For now, a position in open or dappled shade where it's protected from wind is the best location.

Al

Thank you for the advice. I will do so immediately. I also learned new words, bifurcate and trifurcate.