Bark Grafting Demonstration by Mark Crawford

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