Grafting
"With practice grafting plants successfully can be achieved quite easily by anyone"
Grafting is an old traditional method of plant propagation and has long been used.
All it really is, is joining two plants together, which allows them to grow on successfully as one plant.
This method uses the best characteristics of two different plants, joined together and growing them on as one new plant. Using this method carefully, and being selective, can produce some extremely "super" plants.
The parts used from the two plants are called the scion, which is normally the stem of the plant that is to be propagated. And the other part is the root system of the other plant which is called the rootstock. The scion is grafted onto the rootstock.
There is a fair bit of preparation work required of both the scion and the rootstock, even before the two parts are joined together.
It is important that the two parts are joined together correctly, otherwise the graft will fail.
So this is a method that requires time and some patience.
Grafting is not one of the easiest methods of garden plant propagation. But it is well worth trying as it has very good uses with some types of plants.
With practice grafting plants successfully can be achieved quite easily by anyone!
So, please give it a go.
There are several different methods, all of which benefit some types of plants.
Whip and Tongue is probably the most common of methods used. Whip and tongue is mostly used for the propagation of fruit trees but can also be used with some shrubs and other trees.
Whip is normally used when the scion and stock are the same size in diameter. The whip method can also be used on fruit trees and on some shrubs and other trees.
Spliced Side is best used if the stock is thicker than the scion and you are best carrying this out in late winter or early spring before buds start to open.
Side Wedge is used mainly for the propagation of evergreen and deciduous plants. Side wedge is best carried out in late winter or early spring.
Side wedge is an effective method and is quite simple. Definitely a method to try.
Apical Wedge can be used for many ornamental trees and shrubs and is best carried out in late winter or very early spring.
Apical wedge is also a very simple method. Definitely another method to try.
Side Veneer can be used for many trees and shrubs and is best carried out in late winter or early spring. The rootstock used for side veneer is best if it is pot grown.
Spliced Side Veneer is used for plants that are difficult to graft such as Japanese maples as they have very thin bark.
Conifers can also be propagated by the sliced side veneer method.
Spliced side veneer is carried out in mid or late summer.
Using this method at this time of year can be difficult as the grafted plant has to be kept alive over winter and then hardened off in the spring.
Other types of grafting include:
Chip Budding
Sheild Budding
Rose Budding
T Budding
Inverted T Budding
Rind Budding
If you want any further information on layering plants or how to propagate and grow any of your favourite garden ( yard ) plants please feel free to
contact us
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