Ideal World Grafting vs Real World Grafting
This page addresses the most common problem for grafting, when you have wimpy scions that are not at least the size of a pencil (optimum). This is often the case when your scions are from a neglected old tree found on an abandoned homestead or when the tree you want to propagate didn't put out much scion wood the past year. I am going to approach this topic by first discussing the ideal or optimal conditions for grafting. After establishing the ideal or optimal grafting situation, we will then move to strategies for dealing with the less than ideal.
There is a You Tube that gives a demonstration of the class method of doing the whip and tongue bench graft that is quite astounding because a grafter is executing the whip and tongue in less than 30 seconds. Then the wrapper person secures the union with Parafilm M in less than 30 seconds. The purpose of wrapping is to secure the scion to the rootstock (a process which often uses a budding rubber to get a tight fit that can withstand jostling about against other scion/rootstocks). In this case the Parafilm also seals the union to keep it from drying out (often achieved by Dr. Farwells or an asphalt-based sealant) Then the wrapper person dips the ends (a sealing process) into hot wax in groups. One of the reasons he is able to do that is that all of the scions and rootstocks are optimal. Take a look at that amazing process here. That grafting rate is only possible when you have nicely sized scions (1/4 inch) and nicely sized rootstock (1/4 inch). That is the ideal grafting world. Further on this page we will get to the less than ideal world where the scions are not vey large and we are still want to propage that variety on a rootstock. But before we do that lets of look at some ways of semi-automating the grafting process even if we don't have the skill show by that grafter in the above You Tube.
Omega-style Grafting Tool
To the left you see an example of the popular Omega-style grafting tool (see Amazon reviews to select one with a good reputation). Generally, the scion and rootstock diameter need to be almost identical and at least pencil size or a little larger. Using this kind of tool and equal sized scions and rootstocks of an optimal size (about 1/4 inch), even an inexperienced grafter can achieve a very high success rate.
To the left you see an example of the popular Omega-style grafting tool (see Amazon reviews to select one with a good reputation). Generally, the scion and rootstock diameter need to be almost identical and at least pencil size or a little larger. Using this kind of tool and equal sized scions and rootstocks of an optimal size (about 1/4 inch), even an inexperienced grafter can achieve a very high success rate.
The "Grafting Tool"
To the left is a picture of something known as the "Grafting Tool" (that is what you enter in the Amazon search box). Again it is designed for optimum (around 1/4 inch) and equally sized scion and rootstock. I first learned of the device from a person who had never grafted before, yet had an incredible take rate with plums grafted to peach limbs (plum and peach are compatible). When I used it with apples I had a 23 out of 24 success rate.
Above we started of a brief You Tube of the classic approach to executing the the whip and tongue bench graft by an experienced grafter with a very sharp knife. That was followed by examples of two grafting tools that don't require grafting skills to be successful.
Now we are going to consider a hybrid that "semi-automates" the most difficult part of the whip and tongue, creating the long slanting cut on the scion and the rootstock. In the above You Tube that long slanting stroke was executed with a single pull stroke with no second, third, or fourth stroke to clean up the slanted cut so that it is the right size and shape (required by most of us amature grafters). The next You Tube shows a method of making that slanting stroke with a cutting tool that is a little more precise than most amatures can make with a knife.
Watch "Whip & Tongue Grafting" video of a person at the Salt Spring Apple Company. Note that she does not use a pull stroke on her knife to form the slanted cut on the rootstock or the scion (she uses pruning shears instead). She does use her knife to make the back stroke that is somewhat parallel with the slanted cut she made with the pruning shears. Note that she uses Parafilm to compress and seal the union. Note how she seal the end of the scion. Also not how many buds does she want on the scion.
Utility Knife Blade-Based Pruning Device
At a previous grafting class David Benscoter of the Lost Apple Project demonstrated the use of a utility knife blade - based pruning device that allows you cut a very nice long slanted cut that was (the first cut on both the rootstock and the scion for a whip and tongue graft). This is a method recommended by E.J. Brandt, also an active participant in The Lost Apple Project. This device achieves the same thing as the use of hand pruners shown in the Salt Spring Apple Company video. Below is a picture of the tool that E.J. recommends. Thanks, E.J, for the excellent suggestion. If you re-watch the video above you should be able to cut a nice slanting cut with your new E.J. tool, and complete a whip and tongue graft with little effort.
Now we are going to consider a hybrid that "semi-automates" the most difficult part of the whip and tongue, creating the long slanting cut on the scion and the rootstock. In the above You Tube that long slanting stroke was executed with a single pull stroke with no second, third, or fourth stroke to clean up the slanted cut so that it is the right size and shape (required by most of us amature grafters). The next You Tube shows a method of making that slanting stroke with a cutting tool that is a little more precise than most amatures can make with a knife.
Watch "Whip & Tongue Grafting" video of a person at the Salt Spring Apple Company. Note that she does not use a pull stroke on her knife to form the slanted cut on the rootstock or the scion (she uses pruning shears instead). She does use her knife to make the back stroke that is somewhat parallel with the slanted cut she made with the pruning shears. Note that she uses Parafilm to compress and seal the union. Note how she seal the end of the scion. Also not how many buds does she want on the scion.
Utility Knife Blade-Based Pruning Device
At a previous grafting class David Benscoter of the Lost Apple Project demonstrated the use of a utility knife blade - based pruning device that allows you cut a very nice long slanted cut that was (the first cut on both the rootstock and the scion for a whip and tongue graft). This is a method recommended by E.J. Brandt, also an active participant in The Lost Apple Project. This device achieves the same thing as the use of hand pruners shown in the Salt Spring Apple Company video. Below is a picture of the tool that E.J. recommends. Thanks, E.J, for the excellent suggestion. If you re-watch the video above you should be able to cut a nice slanting cut with your new E.J. tool, and complete a whip and tongue graft with little effort.
What to do when you have a suboptimal scion (real world grafting):
In the real world of grafting you often encounter situations where the scion is simply not as large as you would like. The beginning place is to recognize that what ever you do will involve lining up the cambium of the scion with the cambium of the rootstock to form a vascular channel for the flow of nutrients between the root and the leaves formed on the scion. Ideally we would be able to match cambiums of rootstock and scion all the way around the union. But that won't be possible with a smaller scion, so we orient to a good union on only one side. Fortunately we have options.
Whip and Tongue & Whip: With the whip and tongue we simply slide the scion to one side and wrap securely. If it is a particularly small diameter scion you might not use the back cut but line up the cambium of the rootstock and the cambium of the scion and secure them. This is usually called a whip graft (a whip and tongue minus the tongue). The Ronan Multi-Cut is a useful tool with small diameter stock to make the long slanting cut.
Cleft Graft: The cleft graft is very versatile and often used with small diameter scions. You can execute it with a scion on just one side or you can have a small scion on both sides of the opening in the rootstock. For small diameter scions it would probably be my first choice because it is so easy to execute and has a high rate of success, even with those with little grafting experience.
Side Graft: The side graft is actually a varian of the cleft graft with the added benefit of substantial nutrient movement due to the fact that the top remains attached and is the destination of the nutrients that pass by the scion and nourish the union.
Whip and Tongue & Whip: With the whip and tongue we simply slide the scion to one side and wrap securely. If it is a particularly small diameter scion you might not use the back cut but line up the cambium of the rootstock and the cambium of the scion and secure them. This is usually called a whip graft (a whip and tongue minus the tongue). The Ronan Multi-Cut is a useful tool with small diameter stock to make the long slanting cut.
Cleft Graft: The cleft graft is very versatile and often used with small diameter scions. You can execute it with a scion on just one side or you can have a small scion on both sides of the opening in the rootstock. For small diameter scions it would probably be my first choice because it is so easy to execute and has a high rate of success, even with those with little grafting experience.
Side Graft: The side graft is actually a varian of the cleft graft with the added benefit of substantial nutrient movement due to the fact that the top remains attached and is the destination of the nutrients that pass by the scion and nourish the union.