What Supplies Are Needed for Grafting Grape Vines?

Scion

• The scion must be an established plant that has been producing fruit for at least one growing season, during which time there were no signs of pests or disease. Grafting should be performed during the time when the scion is budding but the leaves have not yet unfurled. For optimal results, the buds must be fully formed. It is common practice to remove a long bud stick from the scion that features multiple individual potential grafting buds. This ensures that you perform minimal cutting on the scion.

Knife

• Use an extremely sharp knife to cut the grape vines and remove the buds. Dull knives increase the risk of personal injury and will likely destroy the bark at any incision sites. Cuts that have been made by a dull knife often do not heal and cause death to the branches and sometimes to the entire plant.

Budding Rubber

• You can purchase budding rubber or grafting tapes at most lawn and garden stores. The budding rubber secures the bud to the rootstock without damaging the plant and suffocating the new bud and preventing growth. It is best to use biodegradable materials, but if you choose not to just remove the tape in two to three weeks when the new bud is firmly established to the rootstock.

Rootstock

• The rootstock must be healthy to accept a new bud. The two prime factors to consider are the moisture content of the bark and the ability of the bark to peel. When you make the T incision with a sharp knife, the bark should peel back easily in one smooth piece. If any bark sticks, the tree is not likely to accept new growth. If there is a high moisture content in the bark, make an upside down T incision to prevent moisture from continuing to build up in this area. If the new bud is flooded with moisture it will rot.