How to Graft Tree Roses

Tree roses can be spectacular in the garden.

A tree rose is a showy, colorful addition to the garden, as the beauty of the flowering roses is displayed fully due to the height of the tree. Tree roses are flowering roses grafted on to bare trunks of rose trees. In essence, you have two roses: the vigorous rootstock of the tree and the flowering graft. You will need to practice grafting techniques in order to succeed, but successful grafting means you no longer need to purchase expensive tree roses.

Things You'll Need

• Rooted rose tree, ideally Dr. Huey variety
• Mini saw
• Sharp budding knife
• Parafilm tape

Instructions

1. Saw the top off your Dr. Huey rose tree, at the point you wish to graft on your flowering rose bush. This will leave a bare tree trunk, and the root system of the tree will be intact.

2. Use budding knife to make at least three shallow, 45-degree angled cuts into the top of the bare tree trunk. These cuts should be 3/4 inch in length and will house the bud of the grafted bush rose.

3. Find new bud eyes on the rose to be grafted. Cut bud eyes from the graft rose bush using the sharpened bud knife. Cut bud eyes should be approximately 3/4 inch in length to match the size of cuts on the tree trunk.

4. Insert bud eye into the cut on the trunk of the rootstock. Seal bud eye in place by wrapping with parafilm tape.

5. 

   Grafting by chip budding is one way to create tree roses.

   Repeat Steps 3 and 4 above to add two more bud eyes to the rootstock.

6. Leave the grafted bud eyes to root into the trunk. New growth will appear through the parafilm tape. The parafilm tape will eventually rot and fall off the tree.

Tips & Warnings

• Dr. Huey is a recognized rootstock for grafting, as it is a vigorous climber which roots easily. You can create a number of Dr. Huey rootstock plants over time to use for grafting.

• Dig up the rootstock of the graft tree and move it to a better location at the time you saw off the trunk. The dormant season is the best time to create your bare tree trunk, if you plan on moving the rooted trunk prior to grafting.

• Consider wrapping your tree rose in winter to protect the grafted rose from severe frost damage.

References

• Simple Gifts Farm: Grafted Tree Roses
• Heritage Rose Foundation: Propagating Tree Roses by Chip Budding
• Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society: Our Ultimate Technique for Chip Budding Roses

Resources

• Love of Roses: Budding Roses
• Cornell University: A History of Grafting