Grafting fruit trees

Grafting fruit trees

This is a useful skill to learn as fruit trees are expensive. The first job is to plant young vigorous wild fruit trees (they are cheap) that are the correct root stocks for grafting the desired fruit varieties. 

young wild fruit trees

In late autumn, cut some soft branches with buds from well developed fruit trees, wrap up in paper and keep in the fridge over winter. 

soft fruit branches with buds

In spring, when the wild fruit trees are big enough, cut the top part off, make a vertical slit, make a tapering cut on both side of the fruit branch, place cut tip of the branch into the slit so that the outside of the branch lines up with the root stock. 

cut a slit on wild fruit tree

insert tapered cut ends of fruit branch into root stock

If the root stock is big, place 2 branches in to see which one takes. Cover all exposed cuts with tree glue, then wrap up well with cling film so that the joint is tight and there will be no loss of moisture.

cover cuts with tree glue

wrap joint with cling film

When buds on the branch grow, it is a successful graft.