How to Graft Cherry Tree Roots

Select healthy trees for harvesting rootstocks and scions. Use sweet cherry varieties as the rootstock for both sour cherry and sweet cherry scions. You may also use sour cherry roots with sour cherry scions. Perform the grafting during the late winter or early spring, just before the trees emerge from dormancy.

Cut the end sections off the branches of the cherry trees that you intend to use as scions. Choose small branches that measure about 1/2 inches in diameter. Make a long, slanted cut that extends for about 1 1/2 inche long. Choose a rootstock with a stem that is equal in diameter to the scion. Remove the top part of the stem that emerges from the rootstock, cutting it about 12 inches from the soil. Make a matching slanted cut at the top of the stem.

Attach the open surface of the cut scion to the open surface of the cut rootstock stem, pressing the wounded surfaces together. Make sure the inner bark of both segments is touching on at least one side of the graft union. Bind these two cherry tree segments together with a piece of grafting tape. Apply a grafting compound over the tape, molding it around the union to help hold the two segments in place.

Watch the scion for the appearance of new growth. When several new leaf buds emerge, remove the grafting compound and carefully peel away the grafting tape, allowing air to circulate around the graft union.