How to Graft Dwarf Fruit Trees

If you want to grow fruit trees but live on a small lot, you can still do so by grafting branches on a dwarf fruit tree. Get some dwarfing rootstock from your local nursery and cut fruiting branches for the grafts from trees in your neighborhood, with permission of the owners, of course. In just a few short years, you'll have full sized fruit on your dwarf fruit trees.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Knife
• Saw
• Rubber bands
• Plastic wrap
• Waterproof tape

1. Get the rootstock from a reputable nursery and gather the fruiting scions (branches that will produce fruit). The branches should be close in size to each other in diameter.

2. Cut off the end of a branch on the rootstock at a 45-degree angle.

3. Cut off the base end of the fruiting scion at a 45-degree angle.

4. Line up ends of both branches and pay particular attention to lining up the area just under the bark. This is the cambium and there must be contact between both branches in this area in order for the graft to take.

5. Holding the graft so the cambium layers are matched up, wrap rubber bands around the graft area, binding the two pieces together. Be thorough.

6. Loosely cover the graft area with plastic wrap and tape the ends with waterproof tape.

7. After 3 or 4 weeks check the graft for signs of white calluses--this means the graft has taken.

8. When the new fruiting branch is growing vigorously, remove all branches belonging to the rootstock.

Tips & Warnings

• Collect scions in late fall. Put them in plastic bags and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Leave several branches of the rootstock to "nurse" the new branch along; remove them when the new growth is rapid and vibrant.
• Tell your local nursery/retailer what kinds of branches you've collected to graft onto dwarf rootstock. She will recommend compatible rootstock to increase your chances of success.
• Keep newly grafted trees securely staked for at least a year to minimize breakage.