Whip Graft Whip (also called tongue or splice) grafting is particularly useful for grafting relatively small material 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter and where the scion and stock are of about the same size. It heals quickly and makes a strong union. The procedure in whip grafting is as follows: In whip grafting the scion and the stock are cut slanting and then joined. The grafted point is then bound with tape and covered with soft wax to prevent dehydration and infection by germs. Also known as the whip and tongue graft, this is considered the most difficult to master but has the highest rate of success as it offers the most cambium contact between the scion and the stock. It is the most common graft used in top-dressing commercial fruit trees. It is generally used with stock less than 1.25 cm (1⁄2 in) diameter, with the ideal diameter closer to 1 cm (3⁄8 in) and the scion should be of roughly the same diameter as the stock. The stock is cut through on one side only at a shallow angle with a sharp knife. (If the stock is a branch and not the main trunk of the rootstock then the cut surface should face outward from the centre of the tree.) The scion is similarly sliced through at an equal angle starting just below a bud, so that the bud is at the top of the cut and on the other side than the cut face. A notch is cut downwards into the sliced face of the stock and a similar cut upwards into the face of the scion cut. These act as the tongues and it requires some skill to make the cuts so that the scion and the stock marry up neatly. The joint is then taped around and treated with tree-sealing compound or grafting wax. The elongated "Z" shape adds strength, removing the need for a companion rod in the first season (see illustration).  Successful whip graft Further Reading Whip and Tongue Grafting Pecans from the Oklahoma State University, Cooperatived Extension Service pdf Back to Grafting Techiques Page |
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| Bibliography "Grafting." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafting#Whip. Accessed 12 May 2018. Photograph Hibbard, Chris. Successful whip graft, 27 April 2009, GFDL, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafting#/media/File:Whip_graft_(good)_(cropped).JPG. Accessed 12 May 2018. Published 12 May 2018 LR. Last update 26 July 2018 |
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