Grafting Types

Question 1

Apical Grafting

Answer 1

• ‘apical’ = going into the top of the rootstock
• type of detached graft
• 7 types of apical grafting:

1. splice
2. whip and tongue
3. inlay
4. cleft
5. wedge
6. saddle
7. four-flap (banana)

Question 2

Approach Graftage

Answer 2

• the root system of the scion and shoot system of the rootstock are not removed until after successful graft union formation occurs
• two independent, self-sustaining plants are grafted together
• usually done when both scion and rootstock are non-dormant
• can be used to produce novelty plants or braided standards
• also used if you have a rare species you don’t want to lose completely
• it includes:

1. spliced approach graft
2. tongued approach graft
3. inlay approach graft

Question 3

Bark Grafting

Answer 3

• graft into the bark of the rootstock
• most often used to topwork existing trees
• rootstock must be in an active stage of growth so that the bark will slip
• the scion is inserted between the bark and wood of the rootstock
• use when the scion is smaller and can slip under the bark
• alternatives to cleft graft (when limbs are too large or if bark is slipping) (done more often than cleft graft)

Question 4

Bridge Grafting

Answer 4

• a type of repair graft
• multiple dormant scions used to create a bridge across the damaged trunk
• bark of tree must be slipping (so best if done early in spring)

Question 5

Cleft Graft

(Split Grafting)

Answer 5

• one of the oldest methods of grafting
• used to topwork trees, either in the trunk of a small tree or in the scaffolding of a larger tree
• specialized tools are used to crack the branch and hold it open until the scion is inserted

1. the stub is split several cm. a smooth straigh-grained section should then be used so the split will be even
2. a scion is made by cutting a long, gradually tapering wedge. the outside edge of the wedge should be slightly thicker than the inside
3. the split in the stock is held open by a wedge for insertion of the scions
4. two scions are inserted in a stub, one at each end of the split. the scions must be carefully placed so the cambium layers match

Question 6

Four-Flap Graft

(Banana Graft)

Answer 6

• used in topworking small-caliper trees or tree limbs up to 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter
• speciality graft: used on pecans, mangos, and other subtropicals

1. the top of the rootstock is cut horizontally, and the bark is cut vertically into 4 strips
2. the four bark flaps are peeled down and the inner wood removed
3. the scion bark is removed and the wood retained
4. the flaps of the rootstock cover the cut surfaces of the scion wood and are temporarily held by a rubber band
5. the graft is then tied with grafting tape

Question 7

Inarching

Answer 7

• a type of repair graft
• seedlings (or rooted cuttings) planted beside the damaged tree, or suckers arising near its base, are grafted into the trunk of the tree to provide a new root system

Question 8

Inlay Approach Graft

Answer 8

• type of approach graft
• used when partner sizes are very different -if the bark of the rootstock plant is considerably thicker than that of the scion plant
• this can be done only when the rootstock plant is actively growing and the bark is slipping

1. a narrow slot, 7.5 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) long is made in the bark of the rootstock plant by making two parallel knife cuts and removing the strip of bark between
2. the slot should be exactly as wide as the scion to be inserted
3. the stem of the scion plant should be given a long, shallow cut along one side, of the same length as the slot in the rootstock plant
4. this cut surface of the scion branch should be laid into the slot cut in the rootstock plant and held there by nailing with two or more small, flat-headed wire nails

Question 9

Inlay Bark Graft

Answer 9

• grafting method where a wedge-shaped cut is made in the side of the rootstock that is replaced by a scion cut to the same shape.
• an inlay graft can also be used for topgrafts in plae of a whip-and-tongue graft in situations where the scion and stock are different in stem diameter

Question 10

Nurse Root Graft

Answer 10

• a temporary graft system
• allows a difficult to root plant to form its own adventitious roots
• the rootstock may be turned upside-down, its polarity reversed, and then grafted to the desired scion
• a temporary union will form and the rootstock will supply water and minimal nutrients to th escion, but the scion is unable to supply necessary organic materials to the rootstock, which eventually dies
• the graft union is purposely set well below the ground level
• also can be done with partically incompatible rootstock

Question 11

Repair Graftage

Answer 11

• graft used in repairing or reinforcing injured or weak trees
• in established trees
• often trees have been damaged by girdling or mechanical damage
• is included:

1. bridge grafts
2. inarching
3. bracing

Question 12

Root Grafting

Answer 12

• either the entire root system may be used (whole-root graft)
• or the roots may be cut up into small pieces and each piece used as a rootstock (piece-root graft)
• both methods give satisfactory results
• usually bench grafted indoors during the late winter or early spring
• scion wood collected previously is held in storage, rootstock plants are also dug in the late fall and stored under cool (35-40F) and moist conditions until the grafting is done
• can use any type of grafting/joining

Question 13

Saddle Graft

Answer 13

• can be bench grafted by hand or machine
• rootstock and scion should be same size

1. scion is prepared by cutting upward through the bark and into the wood on opposite sides of the scion to form a wide wedge or saddle
2. the rootstockis cut transversely and recieves two upward cuts on either side
3. the two cuts should fit together so that the vascular cambium matches

• the scion looks like it is sitting on a saddle (the rootstock)

Question 14

Side Grafting

Answer 14

• the scion is inserted into the side of the rootstock
• the rootstock is generally larger in diameter than the scion
• the top of the rootstock above the graft, is only cut off after the union has healed
• Japanese maples and conifers

Question 15

Side-Stub Graft

Answer 15

• useful in grafting branches of trees that are too large for the whip-and-tongue graft yet not large enough for other methods such as the cleft or bark graft
• for this type of side graft, the best rootstocks are branches about 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter

1. an oblique cut is made into the rootstock branch with a chisel or heavy knife at an angle of 20 to 30 degrees
2. the scion should contain two or three buds and be about 7.5 cm (3 in) long and relatively thin
3. at the basal end of the scion, a wedge about 2.5 cm (1 in) long is made. The cuts onboth sides of the scion should be very smooth, each made by one single cut with a sharp knife
4. the scion must be inserted into the rootstock at an angle so as to obtain maximum contact of the vascular cambium layers,
5. the grafter inserts the scion into the cut while the upper part of the rootstock is pulled backward, using care to obtain the best cambium contact

Question 16

Side-Tongue Graft

Answer 16

• useful for small plants, especially some of the broad- and narrow-leaved evergreen species
• the dismeter of the scion should be slightly smaller than that of the rootstock

1. the cuts at the base of the scion are made as for the whip-and-tongue graft
2. along a smooth portion of the stem of the rootstock a thin piece of bark and wood, the same length as the cut surface of the scion, is completely removed
3. then a reverse cut is made downward in the cut on the rootstock starting one-third of the distance from the top of the cut
4. the graft is then wrapped tightly using one of the methods described for the ship-and-tongue graft
5. the top of the rootstock is left intact for several weeks until the graft union has started to heal. then it may be cut back above the scion gradually or all at once. this forces the buds on the scion into active growth

Question 17

Side-Veneer Graft

Answer 17

• wiely used for grafting small potted plants such as seedling conifers, decidious trees and shrubs, and fruit crops

1. a shallow downward and inward cut from 1 to 1.5 in long is made in a smooth area just above the crown of the rootstock
2. at the base of this cut, a second short inward and downward cut is made, intersecting the frst cut, so as to remove the piece of wood and bark
3. the scion is prepared with a long cut along one side and a very short one at the base of the scion on the opposite side. these scion cuts should be the same length and width as those made in the rootstock so tha tthe vascular cambium layers can be matched as closely as possible
4. after inserting the scion, the graft is tightly wrapped. graft may or maynot be covered in wax depending pon the species
5. after the union has healed, the rootstock can be cut back above the scion either in gradual steps or all at once

Question 18

Splice Graft

(Whip Graft)

Answer 18

• a simple slanting cut of the same length and angle is made in both the rootstock and the scion
• these are placed together and wrapped or tied
• if the scion is smaller than the rootstock it should be set at one side of the rootstock so that the vascular cambium layers will be certain to match along that side
• often used for vegetable crops that use robotic grafting

Question 19

Spliced Approach Graft

Answer 19

• two stems should be approximately the same size

1. at the point where the union is to occur, a slice of bark and wood 1 to 2 in long is cut from both stems. this cut should be the same size on each so that identical cambium patterns are made. the cuts must be perfectly smooth and as nearly flat as possible so that when they are pressed together there will be close contact of the vascular cambium layers
2. the two cut surfaces are then bound toghtly together with raffia or poly grafting tape
3. then the whole union should be covered with grafting wax

Question 20

Stenting

Answer 20

• a Dutch term for simultaneously grafting and rooting the rootstock
• most often practiced with roses
• both scion and rootstock are actively growing

Question 21

Tongued Approach Graft

Answer 21

• the same as the spliced approach graft
• except the after the first cut is made in each stem to be joined, a second cut, downward on the stock and upward on the scion, is made. providing a thin tongue on each piece
• by interlocking these tongues a very tight, closely fitting graft union can be made

Question 22

Topworking

(Top-Grafting)

Answer 22

• the grafting of a new cultivar onto established trees in the orchard

Question 23

Wedge Graft

Answer 23

• this graft is best when the scion and rootstock are about the same diameter
• a downward V-shaped cut is made into the center of the rootstock
• a corresponding V-shape is cut into the base of the scion and the two partners fit together
• wedge grafts work well for herbaceous and succulent plants

Question 24

Whip-and-Tongue Graft

Answer 24

• a type of detached scion apical graftage
• diameter rootstock: small
• diameter of scion: same as rootstock
• dormant rootstocks (actie with bench grafting of container rootstock
• similar to splice graft except that a second reverse “tongue” cut is made in both the scion and rootstock that allows partners to fit tightly together
• highly successful
• considerable vascular cambium contact
• heals quickly and makes strong union

Question 25

Detached Graftage

Answer 25

* a type of graft used when a section of the shoot of the scion is removed and grafted to the apex of side of the rootstock * it includes: 1. apical grafting 2. side grafting 3. bark grafting 4. root grafting