Grafting 101

Grafting 101
What is grafting?
• Forming a union between two “like” trees
– Apple to Apple
– Pear to Pear
“getting the best of both worlds”
Rootstocks
• Controls the size of the
tree
• Controls some soil borne
pathogens
• Suckering
Scion wood
• Uniform fruit type
– “named varieties”
Rootstock controls size
Graft Unions
• Wedge
• Whip and tongue
• Bud
Wedge graft –step 1
• Get your equipment around
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Knife
Pruners
Rubber bands
Wound dressing or hot wax
Wedge
Gloves (leather or fish fillet gloves)
Wedge graft –step 1.5
• Select root stock
• Select scion
• Cut Wedge
Wedge graft –step 2
• Cut rootstock
• Split rootstock
– Rocking motion
– Split not slice
– Insert wedge
Wedge graft –
step 3
• Insert scion into
split rootstock
• Align at least one
side of bark
Wedge graft –
step 4
• Start at the bottom
and slowly but
tightly wrap the
union together with
rubber band
Wedge graft –step 5
• Seal with tree wound
dressing
• Place tag on tree so you
remember which is
which!
Wedge graft –step 6
• Carefully transport
grafted seedling home
and place in fridge
• Callus cells should form
in 1-7 days
• Xylem and Phloem
– 2-3 weeks
• Plant after the ground
thaws but before buds
break on trees
Wedge graft –step 6.5
• Carefully transport
grafted seedling home
• Pot immediately, grow
in the house until all
chance of frost have
past and carefully plant
outside