Locate a source of scion wood. Select apple trees of known quality, and record the name of their variety. Plan to take wood only from trees that are known to be free of disease.
Snip 1/4- to 1/2-inch diameter cuttings from the midsections of long, straight shoots of the previous growing season's growth. Each cutting should be 6 to 8 inches long. Do not use a shoot's growing tip or base as grafting material.
Tie groups of cuttings from the same apple tree variety in a bundle with twist ties, and immediately place each bundle in a self-sealing plastic bag filled with moist sawdust or moist paper towels. The cuttings should be kept moist but not wet. Seal the plastic bags, and place them in a cool, dark place, such as a refrigerator or an unheated basement. Keep them in that location until you are ready to use them for grafting in spring.