The Art of Grafting

Japanese maples are usually propagated by grafting. Named cultivars do not come true from seed so a branch is cut from the cultivar and grafted onto a Japanese maple rootstock that was grown from seed. This way you will get the exact clone of the cultivar. Also, some Japanese maples will not grow without the use of a more vigorous, seedling-grown root-system. The rootstock of choice is Acer palmatum. This is a seedling grown Japanese maple that is found in the wild and has been around for millions of years.

Here are the supplies that I use.

Medel Buddy Tape, which is 1" in length. I cut this in half. This tape is stretchable.

Doc Farwell's Grafting Seal.

Tina 685 right-handed grafting knife.

A 6 inch long healthy branch from a cultivar that has about 3 pairs of buds. This one happens to be the Coral Bark Maple.

A seedling grown rootstock that has been kept in a warm place so is actively growing roots and is about ready to grow leaves.

The basic plan is to attach this cultivar to a rootstock and keep it all from drying-out until the cuts heal.

The first cut will be about 1/2 inch long and slopes down to a point.

Each knife wiggle or change in cutting speed leaves an imperfection.

Turn the wood over and make another cut in a similar manner and parallel to the first.

Trim the end to that it is square across.

This is what it then looks like.

Position knife to cut down on the understock. You will cut about the same length as you did on the branch.

The understock should already be growing many new, white roots.

Make the cut on the understock.

Gradually make your cut deeper into the wood.

Insert the branch into the understock and align. Check that it fits snug and lies flat.

Start putting the tape on. Stretch the tape a little and begin wrapping the cuts while keeping the tape from kinking. Wrap around 3 to 4 times to prevent air from drying-out the graft.

This is what the tape will look like.

Begin painting the top of the cut to keep air from entering and drying out the graft.

This is the finished Metro Maples side-graft which may begin new shoot growth in about 3-4 weeks. Keep growth on the understock pinched-off.