Budding is a precise form of grafting that moves a single bud from one plant onto the stem of another. The technique works especially well with roses, fruit trees, and many ornamental shrubs. A skilled gardener makes a small T-shaped cut in the bark of the rootstock, slips the bud underneath, and binds the join so the tissues knit together.

Timing is critical. Most budding happens in late summer when the bark slips easily and the bud is mature but still dormant. Once the union takes, the rootstock’s top growth is cut away the following spring, forcing the new bud to become the main shoot. The result is a plant that combines the root system of one variety with the desirable flowers or fruit of another.

Success rates climb with practice and clean tools. The method uses far less scion material than traditional grafting, which makes it efficient when propagating rare or valuable cultivars.

• Inserts a single bud into rootstock
• Common for roses and fruit trees
• Usually performed in late summer
• Produces true-to-type new plants