Grafting resources

Some resources for learning about grafting apple trees.

Video tutorials

There are some fantastic video tutorials that cover many of the steps involved grafting. They are a great way to learn and allow you to pick up a lot more information than reading about it in a book.

I successfully learnt how to rind graft from Stephen Hayes' great YouTube channel. Here are a collection of his videos that cover many of the essentials.

Saddle, cleft and rind grafting: youtu.be/jZHsus9qGlA

Raising your own apple tree root stocks: youtu.be/bM-q_P9zet8

Whip and tongue graft: youtu.be/7blxoFfJC4I

Saddle graft: youtu.be/7UC5Dr3tWDc

Practising the saddle graft: youtu.be/WSvHn5XJq0Q

Saddle graft follow up, showing growth in July, following grafting in April: youtu.be/LdosDnBkqwo 

Books

I have a third edition (1967) of R.J. Garner's The Grafter's Handbook which covers a myriad of different grafting variants. It was recently reprinted in its sixth edition in 2013: www.amazon.co.uk/Grafters-Handbook-Revised-updated/dp/1845337549. There are other books but I've no experience of them.

Timings

February - cut scions when tree is dormant, place in plastic freezer bag with label in fridge until ready for use.
April - when sap is rising and buds about to break graft scions onto rootstock.

Top grafting an older tree in the forest garden

I used rind grafting to work over an older apple tree in the garden. I did the work in two phases separated by a couple of years. The videos are below.

Tools

Very sharp knife and a means to keep it sharp. I've used an Opinel No. 7.

Tape - Stephen Hayes uses cut up freezer bags. I've used stretchable Parafilm tape that works well.

Wax - I've used Tenax grafting wax from the garden centre. Has to be warmed or worked to soften before use then sets.