In this technique, a bud (chip) is removed from the scion (the budstick) and grafted onto the rootstock where a similar sized chip of ripe wood has been removed.

Method

Grafting should take place in the summer, using an established rootstock of at least 1 cm (1/2 in) diameter.

1. Choose a vigorous shoot of approximately pencil-thickness to act as the budstick (scion).
2. Remove a bud chip from this shoot by making a cut about 2 cm (3/4 in) below a bud. This cut should be 5 mm (1/4 in) deep at an angle of 45° towards the base of the stem.
3. Holding your knife 4 cm (1 1/2 in) above the first cut, slice downwards behind the bud to meet the bottom of the first incision.
4. Remove the chip by holding the bud - do not touch the cambium layer. Store the chip in a plastic bag to prevent it from drying out.
5. Make a similar cut in the rootstock, taking care not to touch the exposed wood.
6. Position the bud chip so that its cambium layers touch those of the rootstock as much as possible.
7. Bind the two pieces together using clear plastic tape. This may be removed a few weeks later when the two pieces have joined together.
8. Later that year, during winter, trim the stem using an angled cut just above the grafted bud. This will encourage the formation of a healthy new shoot the following spring.