Saddle Graft Tomorrow

Saturday, the 6th, we will be doing a saddle graft using apple rootstock I have purchased. If you have any apple scion wood from the scion wood exchange, please bring it, otherwise you can use any of the apple stock The Learning Garden has.

DO BRING YOUR KNIFE, PRUNERS AND GLOVES.

The following wonderfully concise instruction can be found at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/grafting.html. The site discusses all types of common grafts.

Saddle Graft

Saddle grafting is a relatively easy technique to learn and once mastered can be performed quite rapidly. The stock may be either field-grown or potted. Both rootstock and scion should be the same diameter. For best results, use saddle grafting on dormant stock in mid- to late winter. Stock should not be more than 1 inch in diameter.


Preparing the Stock

Using two opposing upward strokes of the grafting knife, sever the top from the rootstock. The resulting cut should resemble an inverted V, with the surface of the cuts ranging from 1/2 to 1 inch long.

Preparing the Scion

Now reverse the technique to prepare the base of the scion. These cuts on the rootstock and scion must be the same length and have the same slope so that a maximum amount of cambial tissue will make contact when the two halves are joined.

Inserting the Scion

Place the V-notched scion onto the saddle of the rootstock. If rootstock and scion are the same diameter, cambial alignment is easier; otherwise adjust as needed.

Securing the Graft

Wrap the graft with a grafting twine, tape, or strip, then seal it with grafting wax or grafting paint.

david