Techniques of Grafting Chapter 12

Rules Rootstock and scion compatible Cambium to cambium contact Proper physiological stage Protection from desiccation Proper aftercare

Graft Types Detached-scion grafts Approach grafts Scion is added to rootstock as a separate piece of wood Whip, cleft, bark , etc. Approach grafts Where rootstock and scion are joined together, and graft to ‘take’ before the scion is removed from its roots Repair grafts of established trees Bridge graft See summary of graft types on page 464

Whip Grafting 1/4-1/2” stock Considerable cambial contact Strong union Tying/protection Bury Wax Budding rubbers Adhesive tape Plastic tape

Splice or Whip Graft No tongue Pithy stems (rose) Brittle wood

Splice or whip graft. Very common technique

Whip-and-tongue graft Whip-and-tongue graft. Much stronger than whip graft, and much better cambium contact.

Saddle Graft

Side Grafts Side Stub graft Side-veneer graft 1” stock Nursery trees Must be waxed Side-veneer graft seedling evergreens mist or grafting case

Cleft Graft Topworking Early spring 1-4” stock, 3/8-1/2” scion

Cleft Graft. Widely used in topworking fruit trees

Bark graft 1”+ stock Bark must slip Scion gathered when dormant and stored Must be staked

Approach grafting Grafting two self-sustaining plants together Used for difficult grafts At least one of the plants should be containerized Do when growth is active Must be secure and waxed

Inarching Stock & scion on own roots Repair graft Change rootstock Replace damaged roots Use seedlings or suckers for new rootstock

Bridge graft Repair damage to trunk Must be waxed

Root Graft Graft scion to root Done on bench Grafted and stored (45F, 2 months) Plant in spring

Double-working Used to incorporate an interstock Bud or graft Several techniques liner, spring bud, fall bud bench root graft, fall bud double bench graft bench graft scions, field graft to stock double shield bud (figure 13-19) fall T-bud to interstock, whip graft to stock in spring

Scion Wood One year old or less Healthy well developed buds Vigorous, hardened wood from upper part of tree Avoid suckers (you never know where they’ve been) Center or bottom 2/3 of shoots

Collection & Handling Collect as dormant material 32-40 F Keep moist and aerated If buds are growing, graft will fail

Bench Grafting Grafts performed indoors and not initially planted Root grafts Potted liner rootstocks Performed manually with tools or semi-automatically by machines or robots

Grafting Robots http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vXXcPlBlfw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbV8hqraDsw&feature=related