Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 17, 1994 TAG: 9403170141
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Joseph R. Hunnings
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Using easily available materials and equipment, you can propagate many kinds of ornamental trees, fruit trees, flowering shrubs, roses, and evergreens at home.
Many trees and shrubs can be propagated by layering. Because a branch of the parent plant is needed to form each new plant, this method is practical only for propagating a small number of plants.
Using cuttings of many trees and shrubs will yield enough propagating material to start a large number of new plants. However, the new plants are small and must be tended carefully for several years.
Some trees and shrubs can be propagated by grafting - that is, joining parts of plants together so they will unite and continue their growth as one plant. Using bud grafting, you can propagate a large number of new plants from a small amount of propagating material. Or you can get large new plants soon after propagating by cleft or tongue grafting, techniques that demand more skill and specialized knowledge than the other methods of propagation.
The art of grafting is an ancient one. Evidence indicates that grafting was known to the Chinese as early as 1000 B.C. Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) discussed grafting in his writings with considerable understanding. Grafting is even discussed in the Bible in Paul's Epistle to the Romans, where he refers to grafting between the "good" and "wild" olive trees.
The portion of the cultivar that is to be propagated is called the scion. It consists of a piece of shoot with dormant buds that will produce the stems and branches. The rootstock, or stock, provides the new plant's root system and sometimes the lower part of the stem. The cambium is a layer of cells located between the wood and bark of a stem from which new bark and wood cells originate.
For grafting to be successful, four conditions must be met:
The scion and rootstock must be compatible.
Each must be at the proper physiological stage.
The cambial layers of the scion and stock must meet.
The graft union must be kept moist until the wound has healed.
There are lots of reasons to use grafting. One is to perpetuate varieties of plants - especially fruit trees - that are not easily propagated by other means. Maybe you would like to pass along to other members of your family an heirloom apple tree variety that has been in the family for years.
A second reason is to obtain the benefits of certain rootstocks. Standard size trees often don't fit in today's smaller landscapes. Grafting desirable varieties onto dwarf rootstocks will create productive trees in a much smaller space.
Other reasons for grafting include obtaining special forms of growth such as a dogwood with white and pink flowers or an apple tree with more than one variety of fruit.
If you would like to learn more about the ancient art of grafting, you're invited to participate in a workshop offered by the Montgomery County Cooperative Extension office. This program will be held Tuesday and Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. You must register by calling our office at 382-5790.
For a $10 fee you will learn grafting techniques and take home a minimum of five grafted fruit trees. Several rootstocks and more than 20 apple varieties will be available for your choosing. You're also welcome to bring scion wood to share with others.
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this grafting workshop, please contact the extension office as soon as possible. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
by CNB