Splice grafting

Steve Bradley explains how to graft two woody plants together

- Steve Bradley

MANY of our woody garden plants are actually two plants joined together. The lower part or rootstock is usually easy to produce from seeds or cuttings, but has less attractive leaves, flowers or fruit. The upper part or scion is a desirable named variety that is almost impossible to grow from cuttings or seeds, or it forms a weak root system on its own.

Being compatible

By joining the two together, the plant has the benefit of a strong root system and an attractive top, but the key to making this work is that the two parts need to be so closely related that they knit together to give the appearance of being a single plant, referred to as ‘compatibility’.

Aligning the cambium