How to Graft Plums
Plum trees are easy to graft when they are young. They commonly are grafted using the budding technique, in which a single bud from one plum tree is attached to another plum tree. The bud will develop into a individual branch and produce the same fruit as the parent tree it was taken from. Grafting allows you to have multiple types of plums growing on the same tree. Grafting is a simple process that can be done in an afternoon. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Instructions
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Select the tree that you would like to take a graft from. Wait until the late summer -- mid-July or August -- when the bark is loose and buds are developing.
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Collect bud sticks from a healthy branch that has mature, brownish-colored buds already growing. Remove the stick with buds from the chosen tree, using the garden shears. Clip off any leaves of twigs so that only buds remain on the stick.
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Remove the buds you want to transplant by carefully cutting them off the bud stick. Make a square cut around the bud, then wedge it off the limb gently with the tip of your knife.
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Keep the buds that you want to graft moist by wrapping them in a wet paper towel or damp cloth.
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Choose locations on the root stock tree to place your bud grafts. On young trees, locations at least six inches above the ground are ideal. On developed plum trees, graft buds onto a developed branch that is at least 15 inches from the trunk of the tree.
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Make a T-shaped incision at the locations where you wish to graft buds, using your knife. Peel the bark away gently.
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Slide a bud in between the cut bark on the rootstock tree so that it fits snugly. Repeat the same process for other grafts.
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Wrap all bud grafts with grafting tape to securely fasten them to the tree without covering the buds themselves.
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Check the buds after several weeks to monitor their development. The buds will remain dormant until the next spring.
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Remove all of the rootstock above the bud once it begins to grow. This allows all growth to be focused on the new bud, ensuring the graft is successful and your plum tree will produce the fruits you want.
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Tips & Warnings
Seasonally monitor your grafts' development. Trim away any rootstock growth near the graft. This will help maximize the productivity of your grafts.
Cut away from your hands and body when using a sharp knife.
References
Resources
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