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How To Graft A Mango Tree – 9 Most Effective Steps

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Have you ever heard an old expression, “Two are better than one?” That’s the heart of grafting. The process involves hurting a tree to encourage different growth patterns.

Grafting is an effective horticultural technique where you take one part of the plant (the ‘scion’), attach it to another plant’s root system (rootstock), and allow them to grow together.

The mango tree is one of the most popular and delicious fruits globally. Most mangoes do not produce seedlings that stand true to their type. Grafting is often used as a solution because it increases the fruit’s yield, fruit size, and quality.

This article will discuss how to graft a mango tree and when to do it. We will also provide tips on how to do this successfully so that you can enjoy your first crop of mangoes in just a few years from now. So, continue reading to acquaint yourself with this useful piece of information!

How To Graft A Mango Tree
Grafted mango – via Wikimedia

What Is Grafting

Grafting is an extremely common process in which one part of the plant is attached with another one by connecting its stem. You need to know how gardeners call the different parts of the graft before moving on to the technique. Here are some common grafting terminologies:

Budwood

Budwood is a stick with buds that can be harvested and used for bud grafting. It is a popular procedure for propagating fruit trees.

Scion

It is a cut you select for the graft from different plants. It doesn’t have roots but will become one after being grafted to the rootstock.

Rootstock

It is the lower part of the plant which you cut to graft the scion on its top.

Cambium

It is the layer of vascular tissues present on the branches/stems/trunks responsible for producing a new vascular system of the graft. It is located beneath the bark, and you should attach the cambium of rootstock and scion for successful healing.

Graft Point

It is the point where the rootstock and scion are attached, i.e., the grafting point.

Types Of Grafting

There are different types of grafting depending on the size and position of the scion and stock and the type of cut made. These include:

Approach grafting. Two independently growing, self-sustaining plants are grafted together in this type.

Side grafting. Scion is attached to the side of the rootstock, and the aerial head of the stock is permitted to grow in it. Roses follow this type of grafting.

Splice grafting. Splice grafts are made by first cutting both stock and scion across obliquely. Then the surfaces need to be lined up so that the cambium layer on each side of the graft is touching each other and then tied together.

Saddle grafting. A deep cleft at the end of a scion can be wedged to fit over a wedge at the end of stock. The two cambiums will be in contact; this is called saddle grafting.

Flat grafting. The flat surface of the scion is attached to the flat top of the rootstock, and they are allowed to unite by tying together with a rubber band or twine.

Cleft grafting. Cleft grafting is a technique that allows the union of a rootstock limb that is much bigger than the scion piece. The limb is split for up to 4 inches, with care taken to make sure it splits in the middle of the limb.

9 Steps on How To Graft A Mango Tree

The grafting type common in mango and almost all fruiting trees are cleft grafting. One should graft a mango tree by selecting an ideal variety with desired characteristics. Here are the things you need to graft a mango tree:

Tools You Need

  • Grafting Knife. single-sided, sharp, non-serrated blade
  • Cutting secateurs. to cut bud wood/scion.
  • Cellophane. to bandage your graft, it should be see-through and waterproof
  • Grafting tape. can be used as an alternative to a cellophane or plastic bag
  • Plastic bag. to store your scion/to cover the graft

Let’s start!

Step 1. Select The Rootstock

First, you need to pick a rootstock of your desired mango plant variety. Choose a healthy mango tree with a straight trunk and strong branches, and make sure it grows in your area.

A good rootstock must be 30 cm tall and 3-4 mm thick. Take it from a healthy and disease-free plant, and it should be 6 months old.

Step 2. Select The Scion

You have to take a scion from a healthy tree in the next step. It should be a young branch, and the thickness should be similar to that of the rootstock. The length should be smaller, around 10 cm.

Step 3. Cut The Scion

Cut the scion below the apical with the sharp hand pruner. Remove all the leaves with the help of the same pruner. Time to make a perfect wedge! Cut the bottom of the scion from both sides with a sloping cut about 1-1/4 inches long.

You will end up making a wedge with a sharp point. Slice away the bark to create angle points and connect the tissues. Put the scion in an airtight plastic bag to use later for grafting. However, it would be best not to store scions and perform the grafting the moment you make the scion.

Step 4. Cut The Rootstock

Cut off the selected rootstock around 4 inches (10 cm.) above the soil using the sharp shears. Using your grafting knife, make a cleft into the top of the rootstock. It should be about 1-inch deep.

Step 5. Place The Scion On Rootstock

Both scion and rootstock are ready with their perfect angles for cleft grafting. Now you will carefully position the wedge-shaped scion into the cleft of the rootstock (which you made). They should be lined up properly to result in a successful graft.

Step 6. Secure With Grafting Tape

Graft the rootstock tightly to the scion using your grafting tape so that both are held firmly.

Step 7. Cover With Plastic Bag

Place a plastic bag on the top of the new graft, tie it off tightly at the bottom, and leave it like that until new shoots can be seen.

Insects and pests are prevented from attacking the new graft while this mini-greenhouse raises its temperature. You can also cover each wound with grafting wax or sealant to protect it from infection.

How To Graft A Mango Tree 2
Mango grafting – via Flickr

Step 8. Remove Bag and Tape

Remove the bag and tape after the graft starts producing new leaves.

Step 9. Watering

Grafted trees do not require more care than an ordinary sapling, so water is normal.

Benefits Of Grafting

Grafting technique has various benefits, which include:

  • It can create new varieties of fruit faster than growing from seed.
  • It allows multiple plant varieties to grow from a single tree on a large scale.
  • This technique is reliable for growing many commercially valuable plants that don’t accept other propagation methods, i.e., cutting & layering.
  • Grafting is a useful technique that maintains the consistency of characters such as size, color, etc.
  • You can try different varieties and shapes of a plant using this interesting method.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading our guide about how to graft a mango tree. The steps are pretty straightforward, and hopefully, they’ll help you with your attempts. Please keep us updated on how this post helped you and others. Use the comment section below to share your experience!