Propagation Techniques - Cleft Grafting

Grafting, attaching a portion of one plant to another, is the method of choice for propagating named cultivars of fruit and hybrid nut trees. It works best on plants from the same genus. Cleft grafting inserts a stem piece, called a scion, into a cut made in the stem of another, known as the rootstock.

In late spring, collect 6 to 12 inch branch tips from the cultivars you want to reproduce, just before the buds begin to swell, on new wood that grew the previous season. Label, wrap in plastic, and store in the refrigerator.

Select rootstock based on such characteristics as dwarfness or disease/pest resistance. When their buds begin to swell and green up, it's time to start grafting. Bring out the scion wood and keep their bottom ends in a pail of water to keep them moist.

Cut the top off a seedling rootstock tree a few inches above ground level. If grafting onto a larger tree, cut off a limb between pencil thickness up to 1 inch in diameter. With a very sharp knife, split the top of the rootstock or the end of the branch through the middle, just deep enough to insert a scion.

Prepare the scion wood by cutting off the tip, then cut each branch into 2 to 3 inch pieces with one or two buds, making sure to keep track of which is the bottom part. Make two downward sloping cuts in the bottom to form a wedge shape. Using your knife on the rootstock, force the split apart enough to insert the scion, aligning the green actively growing tissue of both pieces on at least one side. When properly positioned, remove your knife and the pressure of the split rootstock will hold the scion in place.

Cover the graft with grafting wax or tree paint to keep it from drying out. If the graft is successful, the scion buds should grow after a few weeks. It's normal for these buds to take longer to grow than the rest of the buds on the rootstock.

Propagation Techniques - Cleft Grafting

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