Grafting Basics

MATERIALS NEEDED
  • Tape - Clear tape allows you to see the graft. Paraffin tape breaks down in the sun. It is better then elastic rubber type tape. Paraffin allows you to cover the bud and it keeps it sterile. Paraffin tape breaks down in the sun. It is better then elastic rubber type tape. Rubber type tape - you must leave the bud uncovered and exposed, and then there is a chance it will get infected.
  • Clorox to clean off utensils
  • A sharp knife or razor blade (film canisters can be used to store razor blades)
  • Plastic freezer bags
  • Balls of cotton
  • Pen to label the wood
  • Refrigeration
COLLECTING WOOD

TIME TO COLLECT WOOD: January through February, some of March (maybe pecan)

Take grafting wood when it is dormant and store until ready or in September you can graft immediately.

Cut as close to the beginning of spring as possible. Do not let buds start to swell and the buds have to be tight.

Collect wood from the current season

Cut anything dormant

AFTER THE WOOD IS CUT

Label - Name, variety, and date of the wood.

Put the wood inside of a plastic freezer bag.

Put a cotton ball, dipped in water, and wrung out 80%, and put it into the plastic bag.

If you have different kinds of wood, wrap them up together and label them. This way different varieties can be put into the same bag.

Keep refrigerated at regular temperatures. You may have to cut the tips off of the wood before grafting.

TIME TO GRAFT

Mid May through September

Green wood Grafting - Mature wood of current season, it must be brown, the wood you are grafting onto.

T-budding - use an exacto knife

Patch Bud - Graft for pecan. Keep bud exposed when you are wrapping the plant. Keep wrapped as long as possible. Around 21 days until you can take off the tape.

Citrus Trees can be grafted all-year round.

CARE OF THE GRAFT

Very little success in grafting will be obtained unless proper care is maintained for the following year or two. The tape must be cut shortly after growth starts in order to prevent girdling and death of the graft. It is an excellent idea to inspect the grafts after a 2 to 3 week period to see if the graft is still well protected.

CLEFT GRAFT METHOD

  1. Top bud from the tree must be on the outside of the branch.
  2. Cut branch at a 90 degree angle (the center cut right down into the center of the wood.
  3. Always prune from the outside.
  4. Cut one nice smooth portion of the branch below a leaf. The cut is about 3/4 of an inch.
  5. Do not cut the sides of the wood. Leave bark on both sides of the wood. One side of the wood is thicker than the other side. The thick part has to be on the inside.
  6. Use a rocking motion with the knife to draw a line to make the shoulder of the graft.
  7. Match only one side of the graft.
  8. If the graft is put on too late in the season, the cold weather from the following season, will kill off the graft.
  9. Wrapping the graft. Start wrapping with the stretch clear tape from the top, bending the tape over the top and wrapping the cover tape down over the top to lock out any moisture. Continue wrapping until you have an inch or two of tape left. From the bottom using regular tape, wrap upward and grab the clear inch of tape. The tape is protecting the graft from moisture. Leave in place at least 21 days.
Softwood Cuttings

Crape Myrtles - get the cutting before it goes to flower and it will root. Seven day to root. After it flowers, it takes ten to twelve weeks.

Semi - Hardwood Cuttings

These cuttings have some dark colored wood on it. The newest growth on the plant is the easiest to propagate.

  • Wisteria - Cut and put stems into 3-inch lengths.
  • Honeysuckle - Propagate in the spring for fall, just before they flower because they are in the active growth stage.
  • Mexican Heather, an annual should root in about 7 days, but do not use rooting hormone on this plant.
  • Hardwood Cuttings
  • Junipers - Take about one year
  • Roses - Takes about 12 - 16 weeks