How to Propagate Fruit Trees

One common method for propagating fruit trees is by bud grafting into a suitable rootstock. This is preferable to attempting to grow a tree from seed, where you'll most likely end up with fruit much different from that of the existing tree. Bud grafting is economical, quick, and it can increase the production of existing fruit trees. Using this method, it's even possible to have several varieties of one species of fruit growing on the same tree.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Select a shoot. You'll need a healthy shoot of new growth from the tree that you wish to replicate. It should be about the thickness of a pencil. Remove it from the tree with sharp pruning shears.

2. Prepare the budstick. Use a sharp knife to remove the tip and the leaves from the budstick.

3. Remove a budchip. Slice into the budstick 3/4 inch below a bud. Slicing at a 45 degree angle, cut 1/4 inch into the wood. Make another cut and 1 1/2 inches above the first one and cut behind the bud to the first incision. Do not touch the inner layer of wood. Store each budchip in a plastic bag to keep them from drying out.

4. Prepare the rootstock. Remove all leaves and shoots from the bottom 12 inches of the stem that you're budding into. Make a shallow cut in the bark of the stem. Starting 1 1/2 inches above this cut, cut downward toward it to leave a small "lip" of bark at the base of the cut. Again, don't touch the newly exposed layer of inner wood.

5. Position the budchip. Place one of the budchips onto the rootstock so that the inner layers of both match each other and are touching. Use plastic tape to bind the budchip to the rootstock. Remove the tape in a few weeks.

6. Remove the growth above the bud. The following winter, use pruners to cut off all growth just above the grafted bud, cutting the stem at an angle.

Resources

• Information on rootstocks for fruit tree propagation