Whip & Tongue Grafting

This is a method of grafting used on ornamental and fruit trees that is carried out in spring (February - March)

Preparation -

In late autumn (October - November) plant your 1 year old rootstocks. These should be Malling or Malling Merton for apples (standard trees), Malling Quince A for pears, Mazzard or Gean for cherries, Brompton for apricots, nectarines and peaches, Myrobalan for plums. Use a naturally occurring species as the rootstock for ornamental trees. The actual grafting will be done the following summer or late autumn (June - September).

Method -

Prepare the rootstock by cutting with sharp secateurs to 4 - 6 inches (10 - 15cm) above the ground. Make a slanting cut 1 ½ - 2 inches long then, near to the top, make a shallow downward 'V' shaped cut into this face to make a tongue.

The scion should be prepared from well-ripend shoots of the present years growth. Cut the base to match the same angle as the stock and then cut a tongue in the same way as the stock was done.

Push the tongue of the scion into the tongue of the stock to make a tight secure joint with the two faces in good contact with each other and that both cambian layers are in contact. This is important for the graft to succeed.

Wrap and tie raffia or plastic grafting tape around the wound making sure that the scion is held in place firmly. ( This is the Whip part)

Paint with wound paint if you prefer.

The Stages in Whip Grafting

Stages in Whip Grafting