Grafting on Norfolk Pines

Gather scions from a comparable species of tree during their dormant season. Choose a piece that is the diameter of a pencil, from the prior season’s growth. Cut scions 10 to 12 inches long, with a budding knife. Protect the scions until spring when they are needed for grafting. Place the scions in a plastic bag and keep them in the refrigerator to maintain moisture.

Cut the damaged bark from the rootstock tree in spring, between April and May, to prepare the area to be grafted. Cut away the bark around the entire damaged area with a grafting knife exposing the healthy tissue underneath.

Cut a slit into the bark at the top of the grafting area, moving up the tree 2 inches with the grating knife. Repeat this cut on the bottom of the grafting area, underneath the top cut.

Lift the edges of the bark away from the tree with the end of a rat-tail comb. Leave the bark intact.

Slice the end of a scion 45 degrees on each end to expose the wood for rooting. Slide the scion tip into the slit in the top of the grafting area, making the newly cut edge flush against the tree. Repeat for the bottom end of the scion. Fold the bark over each end of the scion.

Nail the scion to the tree with one brad nail on each end with the hammer, being mindful not to crush the bark around the scion graft. Repeat, placing scions every 1 ½ to 2 inches around the tree until the entire injured area has been bridged.

Paint the entire grafted area with grafting wax, brushing wax over the scion and root stock trunk with the paintbrush.

Snip new growth off the scions as it appears, with pruning shears. The scions will receive nutrients from the roots of the root stock tree and grow sprouts. These must be trimmed to prevent overgrowth on the side of the tree trunk.