T-budding, chip budding and stain budding are grafting techniques used for top-working trees and producing new plants. Grafting takes skill and practice, but even beginners normally have better success rates with budding than other grafting techniques. Use budding techniques for plants that cannot be propagated by seed or that have divisions measuring one-quarter inch to one inch in diameter. A successful union through budding plants is only possible when utilizing two common and harmonious species.
Trees
Use budding techniques for top-working trees which are less than 4 years old. Budding is a rapid form of top-working that works well through T-budding and chip budding when divisions measure less than double inch in diameter. Select scions from 1-year-old dormant timber for spring budding and in the current season’s increase for summertime budding. Prepare buds while the scions continue to be soft and succulent during the early season when the bark is falling. Graft the buds within 18 inches of the major trunk for a successful union. Trees propagated through budding include dogwood, birch, maple, mountain ash, redbud and ginko.
Fruits
Use budding techniques for top-working fruit trees and producing new cultivars. Budding different cultivars on a common rootstock produces a multi-variety tree which yields more than 1 kind of fruit. Budding techniques assist you designate specific varieties for propagation which will produce more powerful and disease-resistant fruit trees. Fruit trees which occur to T-budding contain apricot, avocado, cherry, citrus, kiwi, mulberry, nectarine, peach, pear, plum, quince and persimmon. Apple trees perform well with T-budding or chip budding, while strawberries and hackberries do best with chip budding just. Use patch budding for trees.
Nuts
Budding techniques work well with a couple of nut trees at younger ages. Use budding for top-working nut trees and producing new seedlings by grafting buds onto common root stocks. T-budding and stain budding work best with nut trees. The exact processes for top-working trees in Part 1 apply to nut trees. Nut trees which function best using T-budding contain almond, horse chestnut and pistachio. Use patch budding for hickory and walnut trees.
Ornamental Plants
Most ornamental plants are modest enough to get successful propagation through budding techniques. Use budding techniques to produce fresh ornamental plants for lower cost than buying them at a nursery. Propagate heirloom plants through budding and present them to friends and relatives. T-budding works best for ornamental plants, like hibiscus, holly, lilac and rose.
