I've noticed some grafts grow out at an angle that eventually blends well with the rootstock. Others, (I have a Cara Cara like this) grow out and always kind of hang off of the rootstock from the side. How does one get a graft to grow out at an angle that looks natural? I've noticed some of my trees almost appear to have been grafted at a 30 degree angle and the scion grows out in a much more natural way. I don't even see the rootstock top. My Four Winds trees look like this.


Here is a picture of a Four Winds graft that grows out and blends nicely. Are they T-Budding these grafts? Because this is how I would like all of my grafted trees to look. Looks like they are bark grafting their trees?

Looks like a whip graft to me.
You can always bark graft also and it'll blend pretty good if you want a clean cut like that whip.

What the disadvantages to this method? The finished product seems to look better than a T-Bud, if you are going for a single tree.

Forgot to add that you should go ahead and cut where the arrow is pointing. It is coming from the rootstock

It is really a matter of choice--the T-bud takes less scion, does not require the top to be cut off until you know it has taken. Whip, cleft, and bark graft require the top to be cut first. I do like the bark graft when scion material is limited--you can use a toothpick size tip of a limb for a bark graft.

Will a bark graft grow out and look like the example above? I would love to see a T-bud that looked as nice.

Am glad Am glad to see that you all are having success with T grafting.
I have been trying to graft some citrus for months now without any success at tall.
All my scions just dries up.
Can anyone please help me.

Charllo,
What type of tape are you using? and how long are you leaving your tape on?

I personaly prefer to leave my tape on untill the bud has started to push through or trying to push through.. I know then that the graft has taken...

Also if you are not properly cleaning your knife between cuts it could cause fungus/infection and the bud will apear to dry up/ turn brown.. I had great problem with this when I first started grafting.. I always clean my blades between cuts and keep a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol that I lightly spray the bud to be removed and area to be grafted before i start my graft..
also if you smoke do not smoke while doing grafting.. Don't know why but I've noticed that grafts I've done while smoking (habit I need to quit) have a lesser chance of taking..

Gina *BabyBlue*

I'm with Charlo, I too am having a tough time t-budding. I learned a large amount of my knowledge on this forum. Thought I would give it a shot and failed. I tried in three places and none of them took, so I have to assume is was my error. I even ordered parafilm over the internet.

A few questions.

Should my Meyer tree (rootstock) be more mature? (pic below)

Is it possible I over wrapped my bud with the parafilm? I went about 1-2 layers.



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Well its almost time for me to stop trying... my time is running out as i am now seventy one years old and not even successful with one plant.
Really i don't believe that the tape is the problem, but in any case am going to use what we have “A combination of soft candle and masking tape" and give it a other shoot.

Somewhere I read that a man visited a site and 90 percent of fail ears was found with plants not using parafintape.

It takes about three weeks. I have used Teflon tape before when I was out of Parafilm tape. You need to use something that is water tight. I would not use masking tape, I doubt the bud will break through & it will leave a sticky residue that could rip the new shoots off when removed.