Grafting Apple Trees

Grafting is a popular mode of vegetative propagation in apples. Over here, a cut twig of a desirable apple variety is introduced into another compatible plant. Most beginners have a query concerning 'why fruit trees are grafted'. The prime reason is to produce fruits that are replicas of the parent plant. In other words, growing apples from seeds usually end up producing apples of different taste. Also, the seeds are not viable in some cases, or they take long time to germinate and develop into a mature plant. Thus, grafting apple trees and other fruit trees becomes an easy option for propagating them.

Tips on How to Graft Apple Trees

In layman's language, grafting is defined as the method of uniting two plant parts (a rootstock and scion) to grow as one plant. While trying to graft apple trees, you will come across various options. Whichever technique you adopt, grafting apple trees require a healthy rootstock and a scion. A neat cut is made into the stock, which is then followed by positioning of scion over the rootstock. These basic steps may vary slightly, depending on the method you are following. Basic gardening info concerning how to graft apple trees is presented below.

Scion and Rootstock for Grafting Apple Trees
The scion is taken from a desirable apple tree. It is the variety that you actually want to harvest apples later. Stringent care should be followed while choosing the mother plant for scion. On the other hand, rootstock refers to the lower portion that houses the roots and supports the upper stem (scion). Although it is not involved in bearing fruits, selecting a healthy stock is of utmost importance in grafting apple tree branches. In short, both scion and stock should be free of harmful viruses, bacteria and destructive diseases.

Cleft Grafting Apple Trees
This technique is excellent for grafting old apple trees. A twig (or main trunk) about the diameter of 1-2 inch is selected for use as a rootstock. Make sure that the grafts are made at a height of 4-6 feet from the ground level. After deciding grafting spot, cut off the stock completely with an appropriate garden tool. Make a cleft of by using a special grafting chisel or a sharp knife, and spit it open with the help of a screw driver. The depth of the cleft should be sufficient to fit the scion perfectly. You will learn it after a few practices of cleft grafting apple trees.

In the next step for grafting plants, prepare two scions with 2-3 buds in each of them. The bottom of the scions should be trimmed in a blunt wedge shape. In each side of the cleft, gently introduce a scion in a slightly tilted position, making sure that the inner bark portion of the rootstock is in direct connection with that of the scions. Hold the cleft around the scions and fill the whole length of the cleft with a grafting compound. In order to avoid breakage of scions, you can support them with stakes.

Bud Grafting Apple Trees
In this tree grafting method, a single bud serves as a scion, instead of incorporating the whole stem. It is preferably done in the summer season, when plenty of mature buds (slightly brown) are developed in the mother plant. Cut a bud stick having healthy buds, and discard leaves. You can wrap it with moist sawdust to avoid drying. Select a pencil thick branch for rootstock, and make a T-shaped cut in the bark (about 15 inch away from the main trunk). Using knife blade, loosen the bark and keep it ready.

Detach a bud with thin wood from the bud stick. Lift the bark gently in the rootstock, and place the bud inside. This will make sure that the cambium are in close contact with each other. You can use adhesive tape or rubber strips to tie the bud and stock together. Finish off your bud grafting by securing the bud to the stock, without actually covering the bud portion. As the bud starts growing in the active season, trim off the stock just above the bud level with the help of a sharp cutting tool. For the growing and caring part, you can learn more on apple trees planting.

No doubt, grafting fruit trees may sound challenging for novice gardeners. But, the step-by-step procedure will come easily with practice. Whip grafting and bench grafting apple trees mean one and same thing. Over here, the rootstock and scion should be of similar size. It is excellent for grafting young apple trees. Once you are familiar with the basic steps for grafting apple trees, you can experiment with positioning two or more scions of varied cultivars in one rootstock.