How to Make a T Cut on the Stem for a Budding Rose Plant

Select the stock and time the graft correctly. The rootstock should be disease-free, vigorous and actively growing. The rootstock bark should be slipping, meaning that the bark can be peeled easily with little damage because the vascular cambium is growing.

Make a vertical cut on the rootstock that is about the same length or slightly longer than the length of the cut on the budwood that will be used. Use a sharp budding or grafting knife or razor sterilized for disease prevention. The cut should be very shallow, cutting only through the bark. Use minimal pressure. With a sharp knife, the cut should be gentle enough that whoever is wielding the tool could feel the blade against the wood but not actually cut into it.

Make a horizontal cut at the top of the vertical cut. This cut should be shorter than the vertical cut but large enough to accommodate the budwood.

Twist the knife gently under the bark in the upper portion on both sides of the vertical cut. The bark should open to form flaps. If the bark does not easily flap, it is likely not slipping. Avoid tearing the flaps. If the flaps are created easily, the rootstock is ready to receive the scion bud.