Bark Grafting Demonstration by Mark Crawford

Bark Grafting Demonstration by Mark Crawford

View a bark grafting demonstration by Mark Crawford of Loch Laurel Nursery. Late Summer is the best time of year to bark graft!

Benefits of Bark Grafting

  • Graft can be done during time of the year when plant is actively growing and the bark is slipping on the rootstock     
  • More cambium to cambium contact between scion and rootstock
  • Faster healing
  • Great way to fix failed cleft grafts so year is not lost

Tips and Techniques

  • Scion must be fully mature (ripe), i. e., flower bud should be present on the scion
  • Best time of the year for bark grafting is July, August and September
  • Co-Flex wrapping tape can be purchased at Feed & Seed stores and some drug stores - Co-Flex is widely used as a compression bandaging product
  • A budding knife with a copper bark lifter works best to lift the bark from the stem and helps to prevent spread of disease
  • Cover graft and monitor as you would with a conventional graft

 

Bark Grafting Demonstration by Mark Crawford