Lately I enjoy bark grafting on limb more than cleft grafting when the barks are slipping. My own style of bark grafting. This is plum grafted unto pluot. To save on parrafilm, I first put a thin layer at the join, then wrap a wide rubber band around it (costs $1 for a 1/4 lb bag of rubber band, perhaps 1,500 pcs of it), then I wrap 2 to 3 layers of parafilm over the rubber band to protect the rubber band from deteriorating. I paint the scionwood with Doc Farwell's grafting sealant.
The first layer of parrafilm simply waterproofs and protects the union, you know diseases and dirt can stick to the rubber band too. Parrafilm is a nice repellent of moisture and dirt. Then the rubber band provides the temporary strength of the union while they are healing. Finally the last layers of parrafilm protects the rubber band from UV rays. Depending upon how long I want the wrapping to stay, that is dictated by the number of outer layers of parrafilm. For 3 months, 2 layers would be fine, for 6 months, 3 layers is fine, for one year, four layers would suffice. At the end of those times, the layers of parrafilm become brittle and fall off, exposing the rubber band which will then easily deteriorate and fall off within a week. By the time all wrappings fall off, the union is very strong, so really no need to get back to clean them up. That's just my style.
