Grafting is a set of horticultural techniques used to join parts from two or more plants so that they to grow as a single plant. In grafting, the upper part (scion) of one plant grows on the root system (rootstock) of another plant. The practice of grafting can be traced back 4,000 years to ancient China and Mesopotamia. As early as 2,000 years ago, people recognized the incompatibility problems that may occur when grafting olives and other fruiting trees.

 Since grafting is an asexual or vegetative method of propagation, the new plant that grows from the scion will be exactly like the plant it came from. These methods of plant reproduction are usually chosen because cuttings from the desired plant root poorly (or not at all). Also, these methods give the plant a certain characteristic of the rootstock - for example, hardiness, drought tolerance, or disease resistance. Since grafting methods require extensive knowledge of nursery crop species and their compatibility, grafting techniques are usually practiced only by more experienced nursery operators.

 Clones or varieties within a species can usually be grafted. For example, Pink Sachet dogwood can be grafted onto White Flowering dogwood rootstock and vice versa. Bradford pear can be grafted onto Callery pear rootstock and vice versa. However, Pink Sachet dogwood cannot be grafted or budded onto Callery pear.

 Grafting can be performed only at very specific times when weather conditions and the physiological stage of plant growth are both optimum. The timing depends on the species and the technique used. Most temperate fruits are grafted when dormant in early spring before bud break. Scion wood is often collected when doing dormant pruning and then stored at 33f - 40f with a high humidity until needed for use.

 

Since our Scion wood can be shipped from late February through early April it is sent seperate from plant orders. Most orders are shipped in a priority mail envelope and each scion should provide for 2 grafts with experienced grafters getting 3 or even 4

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