Grafting Guide

Grafted cherry tree.

Grafting involves two or more tree stocks being joined together to produce a stronger performing or climate appropriate tree or to propagate a seedless tree. It always includes binding a section of a wood called a scion into the trunk of a growing tree. The scion grows to become the new top of the mature tree, and the rootstock forms part of the trunk. The many styles and techniques for grafting are based on tree type, climate or personal preference and past success.

Necessary Elements

You will always need one or more healthy pieces of scion wood to graft into the root stock. Your root stock should be chosen for its hardiness, disease resistance and good performance in your climate. Young trees under 5 years old are the most common rootstock, though older trees can be used. The root stock and scions must always be from the same plant family but do not need to be the same varietal.

Choose healthy wood with at least three leaf buds at least 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch in diameter. Harvest the scion wood in the winter with a clean sharp cutting blade and store wrapped in a damp paper towel and resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator or at around 34 degrees Fahrenheit until grafting.

You will need grafting tape, a stretchy plastic biodegradable binder or rubber bands, and grafting wax to secure the graft and protect it from drying out. You will also need a sharp and sturdy garden knife for a grafting tool, which includes a cutting blade and acts as a lever for fitting the grafts together.

When to Graft

Establishing a graft should be done in the spring as the leaf buds on the rootstock are beginning to open up until blooming time. For most trees and climates, this is in April or early May. Retrieve your scion wood from its cold storage and ensure that it has not dried out, which will make the graft fail and is not worth pursuing. Make your cut or cuts in the root stock in keeping with the grafting method you are using. Use your garden knife to cut the scion wood to fit into the notch on the root stock and slide the scion wood into place so that it fits snugly. Bind the scion to the rootstock with grafting tape or with one or two rubber bands. Apply melted grafting wax over the entire graft area, sealing all of the raw wood openings well to prevent drying out and graft failure.

Common Grafting Techniques

Some common grafting styles and techniques include whip grafting, bench grafting, bark grafting, side or stub grafting, veneer grafting and cleft grafting. Each have their attributes and processes. Whip grafting works well when the rootstock and scion wood are the same or near diameter between 1/4 and 1/2 inch. Cleft grafting is usually better for grafting larger scion branches over 1/2 inch and up to 4 inches or more in diameter. Bark grafting is similar to the cleft method but is for smaller branches ranging from an inch to several inches in diameter. Side grafting works best on plants that are too large for a whip grafting but not large enough for cleft or bark grafting.

References

• North Dakota University Extension: Grafting & Budding Fruit Trees
• North Carolina University Extension: Grafting and Budding Nursery Crop Plants