Chip budding

Budding is a method of grafting in which the graft consists of a single bud, as opposed to the complete section of stem used in whip and tongue or rind grafting. It can be used on young apple and pear trees, and for plum, cherry, apricots and peaches. It is quicker and easier than whip and tongue grafting and rind grafting, and hot wax is not required. Budding can be performed from about mid-July until towards the end of August. In this video, William Seabrook demonstrates the chip budding method, in which the bud that is inserted is completely covered with transparent tape. Cut the bud to be used, and don’t touch the cut surface. Make the cut on the host tree, ensuring that there is a “window” of exposed wood, which is where the callous will form. The transparency of the tape enables you to see the callous forming, a process that takes about 10 days. Wind the tape around the bud, covering it completely, and tie off. The bud will stay dormant until next spring, when, in about mid-March, the top of the host tree is removed by making a sloping cut just above the bud – sloping so that rainwater runs off on the opposite side with respect to the bud. You could seal the cut with grafting wax to ensure a better chance of success. Narration by William Seabrook presented by Dan Neuteboom, camera by John Paddy. Read more at https://realenglishfruit.co.uk