How to Graft Trees

Grafting fruit trees creates fruit that cannot be grown with seeds.

Grafting allows trees to grow and produce fruit that cannot be produced by seed. Trees must be compatible, which means that they must be of the same type of tree. Citrus trees are usually compatible with each other, as are other trees with the same fruit types. Grafting may not always work and can take several tries before suitable matches are found. It may take several years to see fruit from a grafted tree.

Things You'll Need

• Saw
• Hedge cutters
• Straight-edged knife
• Grafting tape
• Grafting wax or tar

Instructions

1. Trim the parent tree down, leaving the beginning of one branch in tact.

2. Cut through the bark on one side of the branch using a straight-edged knife. The cut should be 2 to 3 inches long and parallel to the direction of the branch.

3. Harvest a branch of the tree you want to graft to the parent tree in later November or December, when the tree is dormant. The branch or scion should be cut at a 45-degree angle. The branch should be no thicker than a pencil. Cut of the top of the branch so it is flat.

4. Insert the scion under the bark of the parent tree where you made the incision; make sure the 45-degree cut of the scion faces the inside of the parent tree.

5. Repeat steps two through four until you have a scion every 4 inches around the parent branch. Bind the scions to the parent tree with grafting tape.

6. Paint the cut end of the parent tree and top ends of the scions with grafting wax or tar. This protects the exposed parts of the tree from rot and disease.

References

• Univerisity of Minnesota: Grafting and Budding Fruit Trees
• Washington State University: Grafting
• University of Missouri: Grafiting