The Best Avocado Grafting Techniques

Benefits

• Grafting is a necessary means of propagation of avocados. The seeds lose their vitality within one month, and when planted, they can take 10 to 15 years to grow a fruit-producing tree. Grafting generates new growth that can be used for new plantings or to repair an existing tree. Commercial growers use grafting as a method of production because seeds are not viable.

Types of Grafting

• Layering brings two pieces of rootstock together by simply laying them on top of each other and lightly covering the union with soil. This is not a viable means of grafting the avocado because a lack of salinity tolerance. Cleft grafting is possible on mature trees with large branches, but it is not a preferred method for citrus-producing trees. Bud grafting is the most common and practical grafting method for citrus trees and the avocado. Bud grafting is also suitable for beginners.

Process

• Make a T cut in the rootstock 12 inches above the ground with a grafting knife. Cut vertically 1 inch and horizontally one-third around of the diameter of the tree. Carefully peel the flaps of bark back, but do not remove them. Cut the bud from a scion about 1½ inches long with a budding knife. Place the boat-shaped bud into the T cut, with both pieces of exposed wood touching each other. Wrap the union with grafting tape to secure it in place, leaving the bud exposed.

Aftercare

• Remove the grafting tape within six to eight weeks if the grafting was performed in the fall. New growth should be evident. For spring grafting, remove the tape three to four weeks after grafting to expose the new union and growth. Cut off the remaining shoots 12 inches above the bud union.