How to Graft a Dawn Redwood

Slice the scion, or bud stick, with a sharp budding knife. Insert the blade one-half inch above the bud, pulling the budding knife through the wood behind the bud and away from the tree one inch below the bud. The scion will then be a boat shaped wedge 2 to 2-1/2 inches long with the bud in the center. The bud stick should protrude from the wedge 3 to 4 inches.

Choose a healthy dawn redwood tree to use as rootstock for the grating procedure. Other varieties of tree are acceptable to use as rootstock, as long as they are similar in size and species to the redwood. Cut a “T” into the bark of the rootstock 4 to 6 inches above the soil line. Peel the bark back to expose the wood, without tearing the bark off the tree.

Insert the bud scion into the rootstock bark, fitting the wedge under the bark and against the wood. Both the scion and the rootstock’s newly exposed wood should be flush against each other, while the bud stick faces away from the rootstock tree. Fold the bark closed over the scion.

Wrap the graft union with grafting tape, securing the bark around the scion. Leave the bud exposed, looping the tape above and below the bud.

Cut the tape away once the new growth has reached 3 to 4 inches. As the new growth occurs, the boat shaped wedge will no longer be flush against the rootstock tree. Snip the scion 2 inches above the original grafted wedge once growth has occurred. This trim will prevent birds and animals from landing on the fragile end of the scion and breaking it at the graft union.