Grafting Made Simple

Follow this 6-step process for improved varieties of trees.

What is grafting?

Grafting is a horticultural technique that's defined as attaching a twig (scion) from one tree to the stem of a tree seedling (rootstock). The scion becomes a permanent part of the tree over time. If the scion is from an improved variety, the tree will take on those characteristics.There are several grafting techniques, but we at The Progressive Farmer have chosen to demonstrate our favorite technique, the four-flap graft technique.

Getting Started (When to Graft).

During the dormant season (late winter), cut new-growth scions with buds on them. Refrigerate scions in plastic bags until spring. Scion and rootstock should be about the same diameter.

Step 1 Vertical Incisions

Make four 3-inch vertical incisions through the rootstock's bark, starting at the top. Slip a small rubber band on the rootstock, stopping just below these vertical cuts. With the point of a knife, separate the bark from the wood at the tip of the rootstock. Peel the bark down in four 3-inch-long flaps. Cut off an equal-sized piece of rootstock with shears after peeling back the bark.

Comments

[caledonian]

Totally naive question, but how do you judge the rootstock is inferior, and thus could be improved by this technique? If it's a matter of variety, why not plant the better variety in the first place. Reading novels over the years has given me some insight with a livestock analogy, emphasized breeding of the "better" livestock to improve the overall herd, but I'm curious how it translates to plants and trees.

[Progressive Farmer]

Grafting can create improved varieties of trees. You can take a trait you like in one plant and graft it to a plant not containing that trait. Take pecan trees for example; trees grafted with improved varieties yield nuts with larger kernels and thinner shells. Grafting can also yield trees that can produce nuts at 7 years of age-compared to 14 years for native seedlings.

[Hawaii00000]

Isn't that plant genetics more than graphing.

[gammatron]

Generally speaking, grafting is done because it's easier than trying to breed a plant for more than one trait at a time. So you breed a rootstock resistant to insect damage or drought, and the scion for the trait you actually want, ie flavor or color. Roses are frequently grafted to keep them from running, otherwise they might get bigger than you want. With dioecious plants like kiwi, male branches are grafted onto a female plant, eliminating the need to grow non fruit bearing plants. Rare or new cultivars can be propagated faster by grafting onto already established specimens than from cuttings. I skipped a bunch of other important reasons. But I think you get the gist of it.

[Wafflicious]

sassafras is hott wood

[mrbob1000]

so... i oculd make a sasafrass tree that has pine tree branches... ULTIMATE CHRISTMASS TREE! this will rock

[carpespasm]

I'm not sure about that combination, but usually you can only graft between two similar trees. I've seen someone who had a citrus tree with several oranges, grapefruit, and lemon varieties growing on it. It was a sight to see when it fruits.

[Patrik]

Heh - yeah, it doesn't quite work that way. :-)

Graft incompatibility is still poorly understood, but it is clear that the plants have to be fairly closely related. That multi-citrus tree is a great example - those are all species within the same Citrus genus.

I believe I've also seen trees advertised that yielded both apples and pears on different branches - apples and pears are both from the Maloideae subfamily (along with quince, loquat, and some others).

The Maloideae (apple subfamily) are part of the Rosaceae, or rose family, along with other fruits such as strawberries (subfamily Rosoideae), and peaches, almonds, and cherries (all subfamily Prunoideae), but a strawberry-apple or cherry-rose tree would be quite an accomplishment, I think.

Sasafrass and pines aren't even in the same Division. Sasafrass is a flowering plant ( Angiosperm), whereas pines are non-flowering seed plants ( Gymnosperms), which puts them something like a quarter billion years apart, evolutionarily speaking - there's no chance you'd be able to graft those successfully.

^{(This lecture brought to you by Botany for the Humor Impaired, Inc.)}

[carpespasm]

Ahh, good 'ol BHI Inc. You guys sure know how to take the fun out of algae.

[Patrik]

In Step 1, do you cut down the exposed wood of the rootstock, after peeling the bark down? It kind of looks like that in Step 3, but I don't see it mentioned. Larger photographs might help as well. Other than that, nice instructable - we don't get much horticulture around here!

[Progressive Farmer]

Yes, you would cut the 3-inch section of inner bark once you peel the outside bark down. Thanks for noticing the error. I have added this to the step.

[pyro13]

I was wondering, can you graft houseplants? I have some philodendrons and another vine I don't know the name of, would it be possible to graft them?

[GorillazMiko]

AWESOME! Man, all your stuff just RULES! Great job, the pictures are great._{Super great.}

[joejoerowley]

cool! Nice pictures :)