Newly Grafted Tree Aftercare Instructions

Apr 16

Dipping your toe into the magical world of grafting? We know how hopeful you are that your first grafts are successful, and as fellow grafters we are here "rooting" for you also! Below you will find the after-care tip sheet we hand out with newly grafted trees.

It is VERY IMPORTANT that the graft union on your young tree stay in place until it heals completely. We highly recommend following these steps to ensure the best possible chance of a successfully healed graft:

1. Be extremely gentle with your newly grafted tree and consider keeping it in it’s pot to plant in ground in late fall or the following spring.

2. Choose a spot away from wind, deer, rabbits, dogs and kiddos…anything that could bump or dislodge the graft union.

3. Keep your trees well-watered and in part shade to prevent sun-scald and the plant from drying out too quickly.

4. Carefully remove or pinch off any buds or shoots that grow from the rootstock. The rootstock is the portion of your newly joined plant that is BELOW the graft union. The graft union is that lump near the middle where the roostock and scion join together. It will be wrapped with a stretchy wax tape or another material depending on the preference and materials available to your grafter.

5. The buds of the scion (the top portion above the graft union) should start to push in the next few weeks. Don’t worry, the buds will push through that wrapped graft union. Leave the wrap intact; do not be tempted to peel it off now.

6. Re-label your trees with a heavy duty label and make a back-up map of your orchard in case your labels fail or go missing.

7. Don't forget to record the rootstock type as well, as this is important information. Any time you buy a tree from us at HOEC, the rootstock should be noted on the ID label.

8. If you have followed the precautions above, but your graft does not take or push over the next month, never fear! It is often still possible to re-graft onto your rootstock in the summer using a different type of grafting technique called BUD GRAFTING (aka chip or t-budding). Should you find that your graft attempt has failed, keep your rootstock watered and let it grow.

If you purchased your pre-grafted baby tree from us at the Spring Sale, you can email us by July1st and we will re-graft it for you!
If you are a grafting student and your own graft has failed, you have two options: either wait until next spring and try again, or….come see us this summer and learn how to bud-graft!

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Meagan Mckenney

Newly Grafted Tree Aftercare Instructions

1. Be extremely gentle with your newly grafted tree and consider keeping it in it’s pot to plant in ground in late fall or the following spring.

2. Choose a spot away from wind, deer, rabbits, dogs and kiddos…anything that could bump or dislodge the graft union.

3. Keep your trees well-watered and in part shade to prevent sun-scald and the plant from drying out too quickly.

5. The buds of the scion (the top portion above the graft union) should start to push in the next few weeks. Don’t worry, the buds will push through that wrapped graft union. Leave the wrap intact; do not be tempted to peel it off now.

6. Re-label your trees with a heavy duty label and make a back-up map of your orchard in case your labels fail or go missing.

7. Don't forget to record the rootstock type as well, as this is important information. Any time you buy a tree from us at HOEC, the rootstock should be noted on the ID label.

If you purchased your pre-grafted baby tree from us at the Spring Sale, you can email us by July1st and we will re-graft it for you!

If you are a grafting student and your own graft has failed, you have two options: either wait until next spring and try again, or….come see us this summer and learn how to bud-graft!

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