| What do the terms grafting and budding mean? | | | | is grafted on to the rootstock at a height of |
| Budding is a form of grafting. Grafting is the art | | | | about 5'. This creates an umbrella type effect. In |
| of attaching a piece of one plant to another plant, | | | | this case the graft union is 5' off the ground, |
| creating a new plant. Grafting is usually done | | | | therefore anything that grows from the stem |
| because the desired plant is extremely difficult if | | | | below that graft union must be removed. |
| not impossible to propagate through other means. | | | | Many people don't understand this and before |
| Dogwoods, for example, are easily grown from | | | | they know it they have a branch 2" in diameter |
| seed, however, it is next to impossible to grow a | | | | growing up through the weeping canopy of their |
| Pink Dogwood from seed. The seeds from a Pink | | | | tree. Before you know it there are several |
| Dogwood will produce seedlings that are likely to | | | | branches growing upright through the canopy and |
| flower white. | | | | the effect of the plant is completely ruined. |
| The most common method for producing Pink | | | | At my website, I've got a couple of photos that |
| Dogwood trees is to remove a single bud from a | | | | show exactly what I'm talking about in this article. |
| Pink Dogwood tree and slip it under the bark of a | | | | You can clearly see the weeping effect that the |
| White Dogwood seedling. This process is known | | | | Weeping Cherry tree is supposed to have, but |
| as budding, and the seedling is known as the | | | | then up through the middle come these branches |
| rootstock. This is usually done during the late | | | | that are no more than just suckers from the |
| summer months when the bark of the White | | | | stem, or the rootstock as it is known in the |
| Dogwood seedling can be easily separated from | | | | nursery industry. |
| the tree, and the seedling is about 1/4" in | | | | Looking closely at the photos you can see that |
| diameter. | | | | these suckers originate from below the graft |
| A very small "T" shaped cut is made in the bark | | | | union. This problem could have been prevented if |
| only, and the bud is slipped in the slot. The actual | | | | someone had just picked off these buds when |
| bud itself is allowed to poke out through the | | | | they first emerged on the stem of the tree. |
| opening and then the wound is wrapped with a | | | | Then they would have never developed into |
| rubber band both above and below the bud. By | | | | branches. |
| the following spring the bud will have grafted itself | | | | This tree can still be saved, but there will be a |
| to the seedling, at which time the seedling is cut | | | | large scar on the stem when the upright branches |
| off just above the Pink Dogwood bud, and the | | | | are pruned off. But under the canopy of the |
| bud then grows into a Pink Dogwood tree. | | | | weeping tree these scars will never show. |
| Budding is usually done at ground level, and often | | | | Another interesting plant that is grafted is the |
| times the rootstock will send up shoots from | | | | Weeping Cotoneaster. In this case the seedling |
| below the bud union. These shoots, often called | | | | that is grown to serve as the rootstock is Paul's |
| suckers, should be removed as soon as they | | | | Scarlet Hawthorn, and Cotoneaster Apiculata is |
| appear because they are from the rootstock and | | | | grafted onto the Hawthorn rootstock at a height |
| are not the same variety as the rest of the plant. | | | | of 5'. Years ago a nurseryman found through |
| Flowering Crabapples are also budded and are | | | | experimentation that these two plants are actually |
| notorious for producing suckers. When removing | | | | compatible, and a beautiful and unique plant was |
| these suckers don't just clip them off at ground | | | | created. I have one of these in my landscape and |
| level with pruning shears, they will just grow back. | | | | we love it. |
| Pull back the soil or mulch and remove them from | | | | Once again since the graft union is at 5', any |
| the tree completely at the point where they | | | | growth coming from the stem (rootstock) must |
| emerge from the stem. | | | | be removed. In this case the growth coming from |
| Most people clip them off a couple of inches from | | | | the rootstock will be Hawthorn and will look |
| the ground, and then they grow back with | | | | completely different from the Cotoneaster which |
| multiple shoots. This drives me crazy! Get down | | | | is what the plant is supposed to be. The easiest |
| as low as you can and remove them completely | | | | way to keep up with this type of pruning is to |
| and you will keep them under control. On older | | | | keep an eye on your grafted plants when you're |
| trees that have been improperly pruned for years | | | | in the yard. As soon as you see new growth |
| I take a digging spade and literally attack these | | | | coming from below the graft union, just pick it off |
| suckers hacking them away from the stem. Sure | | | | with your fingernail. |
| this does a little damage to the stem of the tree, | | | | If you catch these new buds when they first |
| but when a plant is let go like that I figure it's a | | | | emerge, pruning them off is as easy as that. |
| do or die situation. The trees always survive and | | | | Walk around your yard and look for grafted or |
| thrive. | | | | budded plants, and see if you can find any that |
| Other plants are grafted up high to create a | | | | have growth that doesn't seem to match the |
| weeping effect. One of the most popular trees | | | | rest of the plant. Look closely and you may find |
| that is grafted up high is the top graft Weeping | | | | that the growth is coming from below a graft or |
| Cherry. In this case the seedling is allowed to | | | | bud union. |
| grow to a height of 5', then the weeping variety | | | | |