WW-00532     Reviewed 2009  

Grafting and Budding Fruit Trees

How to Protect The Graft

Immediately after completion of the graft the scions should be protected from drying out. Use a grafting compound on the graft unions and other cut surfaces.

Some Reasons Why a Graft Fails

1. The scion and stock were incompatible; apple will not unite with plum, for example.
2. The grafting was done at the wrong season.
3. The understock was not healthy.
4. The scions were not vigorous.
5. The scions were dry or injured by cold temperatures.
6. The scions were not dormant.
7. The cambium of scion and stock were not meeting properly.
8. The scions were upside down.
9. The graft was improperly covered with grafting compound.
10. The scions were displaced by wind, birds or storms.
11. The graft was shaded too much after growth began.
12. New growth was damaged by aphids or other insects.
13. New growth was killed by fire blight.
14. The union girdled because the bindings or label were not released in time.

What If Grafts Fail?

One hundred percent success in grafting is rare. The failure of one or two scions is not serious, since usually more scions are inserted than are necessary for the completed tree. On branches where the scions fail let the shoots grow. These can be budded the same summer or grafted later. Some shoot growth is needed for regrafting, but don't let them become so dense that they crowd the scions.

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