How to properly graft an apple tree yourself, timing and methods of grafting

Apple tree after grafting

Obtaining new varieties of apple trees in the garden using the grafting method is not only useful, but also very interesting. With the help of grafting, you can propagate the variety you like even with only one bud or a small cutting.

Let's try to find out how to properly vaccinate apple tree, the timing of this event, various methods of grafting varietal apple trees.

Content:

What is apple tree grafting and why is it needed?

In its meaning and technique, grafting apple trees is one of the methods of propagating varietal plants by replanting or transplanting part of one tree to another. After transplantation, parts of the plants must grow together.

It is advisable to graft apple trees in cases where:

  • varietal plants do not survive on their own roots
  • to reduce the time required for growing varietal apple trees
  • improving the assortment of apple trees in the garden
  • with a limited amount of planting material
  • growing winter-hardy plants
  • changes in the size of mature trees

If you do not graft apple trees, it is unlikely that you will be able to grow a fruit-bearing apple orchard with good varietal fruits.Important! The plant on which the graft is made is the rootstock, and the part that is transplanted is the scion. The best time to graft apple trees is the period of active movement of juices in the rootstock.

This occurs from the moment the buds swell until mid-summer. For the middle zone with a temperate climate, the second half of summer and autumn are not suitable for grafting apple trees. This is due to the small number of warm and sunny days before the onset of cold weather. They are not enough for good fusion of the rootstock with scion.

How to prepare scion, rootstock and tools for grafting apple trees

To carry out a successful transplantation, you need to prepare grafting material, prepare both the plant - the rootstock, and the instrument itself for carrying out the transplantation. To carry out vaccination you will need special knives:

  • budding - the blade is curved, it is sharpened on both sides
  • grafting - with a straight, very sharp blade, sharpened on one side, with a durable and comfortable handle
  • garden - the blade is curved, durable, sharp

A transparent film is suitable for tying; it is better to take the one that is available in pharmacies and is used for compresses. In addition, you need:

  • var
  • pruner
  • gauze or clean rags
  • water

Where to get and how to prepare rootstock for an apple tree

To avoid mistakes and not to graft an incompatible scion with a rootstock, in amateur gardening it is best to graft an apple tree onto an apple tree. The rootstock can be purchased, or you can grow it yourself. Purchasing plants for rootstock requires certain expenses.

It is much cheaper and more reliable to grow young apple trees from sunflower seeds. Usually after 1-2 years the seedlings can be used for grafting. One of the important qualities of the future rootstock is its frost resistance.Obtaining seed stocks is most beneficial for the amateur garden.

Apple tree for grafting

For rootstocks, you can take forest apple trees grown as a result of self-seeding. Seeds of Chinese anise, anise, and Moscow pear are also suitable. In industrial horticulture, the vigor of the rootstock is also taken into account. They are divided into:

  • dwarf
  • semi-dwarf
  • medium height
  • vigorous

For these purposes, clonal rootstocks are most often obtained from special varieties of apple trees. The advantage of such rootstocks is their known and stable characteristics. On the eve of grafting, the rootstocks should be well watered.

Scion

To graft apple trees, you can use the following taken from varietal plants:

  • kidney
  • stalk
  • branch

Most often, cuttings or buds are used. Cuttings for spring grafting are prepared from dormant apple trees in late autumn, late winter or early spring. Cuttings should be:

  • no thicker than a pencil
  • preferably from a one-year-old shoot
  • from the central part of the ripened shoots
  • with several dormant buds
  • no more than 10 -12 cm long

For summer grafting, cuttings or buds are cut on the day of grafting. To graft apple trees, you can use almost any of the following methods:

  • eye or kidney
  • budding in the butt
  • copulation
  • improved copulation
  • into the side cut
  • into the cleft
  • wedge
  • for the bark

Let's consider the most convenient methods for grafting apple trees for an amateur gardener.

Apple tree grafting by copulation and improved copulation

Apple tree prepared for grafting

Copulation and advanced copulation require some practice but will give good results on apple trees. For this method you need to be able to make confident cuts. For training, you can take shoots of turf or rowan. When the sections begin to come out, you can begin grafting on apple trees.

Such training is required not only for beginners, but also for experienced gardeners after a long break. Important! For copulation or improved copulation, the thickness of the rootstock and scion should be the same. For simple copulation, it is enough to make an oblique cut on the rootstock.

A cut of the same area and at the same angle is made on the cutting - the scion. After this, the sections are combined and the parts are secured with strapping. Improved copulation is distinguished by the fact that a cut is made in the central part of the rootstock, and a tongue of the same length is made on the handle. When combining the cuts, the tongue of the scion should fit tightly into the cut on the rootstock.

After this, the grafting is fixed with a bandage. Before grafting, many gardeners immerse the cuttings in water to which honey or sugar has been added in the proportion of one teaspoon per 100 ml of water.

The survival rate of vaccinations with improved copulation is 25% higher than with simple copulation. These methods of grafting apple trees are used from mid-April to mid-May.

Grafting of apple trees by budding

Grafting by budding of apple trees is carried out in the summer. For this, a peephole is used, cut from an annual cutting from the tree of the desired varieties. The bud must be mature. In central Russia, this time begins in the second half of July. It is advisable to complete the grafting of apple trees by budding before the end of the first ten days of August.

A cut is made on the bark of the rootstock in the shape of the letter T. The bud is cut off with a shield of bark. This shield is tucked into the incision and the graft is secured with a bandage. To carry out budding, choose the northern side of the rootstock. It is important to make all cuts with a clean knife; if a bud accidentally falls to the ground, there is no need to pick it up; another bud is cut off for grafting.

Summer grafting does not require preliminary preparation of cuttings and their storage until spring. It is important to complete summer vaccinations 50 - 55 days before the onset of persistent cold weather. Grafting apple trees is an interesting and useful thing; it will help you grow an apple orchard with the most delicious fruits.

Video about apple tree grafting:

Apple tree for graftingApple tree prepared for grafting