Tree grafting: what it is, when and why it is done

Tree grafting is the grafting of a shoot or bud of one tree to another. New tissues form between them, and the shoot is fed from the root system of the tree. They become one whole. Let's look at why trees are grafted and when it is done.

Features of tree grafting

Only closely related trees can be grafted. The periods of their dormancy and active sap movement, the time of fruiting must coincide. A few examples of tree compatibility:

• Apple trees of different varieties are spliced with each other, as well as with dogwood or hawthorn.
• Pears are grafted to pears, apples, mountain ash, and hawthorn.
• Plums are combined with plums, alycha, thorns.

As a basis for grafting a shoot, choose trees from 3 years old with a strong root system. One-year shoot is taken from a healthy tree, grown on fertile soil. For the first time, until common tissue is formed, the nutrition of the shoot and the tree comes from the substances accumulated in them. Therefore, both trees must be strong.

Trees are grafted in spring, at a time when sap movement is already taking place, but the leaves have not yet blossomed. The optimum temperature is about +10 degrees. The weather should be dry but not hot. Excess sun is undesirable. Trees can also be grafted in late July - early August, but then there will be less time for splicing and adaptation.

Why graft trees

There are several reasons why trees are grafted:

• If you grow a tree from a seed, its varietal characteristics are partially lost. By grafting the shoot, it is possible to retain all the properties of the variety.
• Wild fruit trees and young shoots are grafted onto the shoot of a tree with high fruiting characteristics. The young tree has the energy and ability to grow. Combining them produces a strong tree with quality fruit of the grafted variety. The fruits of wild trees are no longer small, sour or bitter, but become large, fragrant, juicy and sweet.
• When a tree is not fruiting well, the shoot gives it «new life.« This method is effective for cherries, plums, apples and other trees up to 10 years old, for non-fruiting species - up to 25 years. The crown is renewed, fruits are formed regularly.
• Grafting a shoot to a young tree accelerates the time of the beginning of its fruiting by 2 times in comparison with if it just grew from a seed.
• Different varieties of fruit are grown on the same tree. Branches from several fruiting trees with the same ripening period are grafted onto it. This allows you to diversify the harvest in the lack of space in the garden.
• To increase the endurance of fruit trees, wild trees and unpretentious varieties are chosen as the basis. They can be made more resistant to frosts or vice versa - more heat-loving.
• Grafting restores the shape of the crown, if the branches grow unevenly or have been broken by the wind.
• If the tree is badly damaged by rodents or for other reasons, shoots are grafted above and below the places of injury. It recovers.

There is a non-standard application of bush grafting. Near-growing plants or their branches are spliced together so that a hedge grid is formed. It turns out impenetrable and strong.

Ornamental shrubs and trees with unusual crowns are often grafted. Shrubs and weeping tree varieties are sometimes grafted onto the base of the tree.