Grafting Workshop

Grafting Instruction — At our grafting workshop, a MidFEx volunteer shows where to put the final touches on a newly grafted apple tree.

Would you like to learn how to create your own fruit trees? Would you like to create a tree that grows more than one variety of fruit? MidFEx will teach you how to graft! Grafting is a method of combining compatible plants to form a new plant. MidFEx conducts annual grafting workshops in March at the Chicago Botanic Garden where you can learn how to graft.

Be sure and review the MidFex video demonstrations on grafting and there is a list of other resources below. Club members benefit from direct access to experienced grafters at all club events, discounted costs for rootstock and the club’s online forum to answer their questions.

Check HERE for details on the 2025 workshop, it is March 23, 2025.

For more than 30 years MidFEx has been presenting grafting workshops in the Chicagoland area. It’s where our more experienced members pass on their knowledge of grafting fruit trees, free of charge, to beginning grafters or just the curious public.

Grafting is an ancient method of producing a tree whose fruit will be identical (genetically) to its parents. Join us at our grafting workshop and create your own apple, pear or plum tree. This is definitely a hands-on workshop. You can buy rootstock at our workshop, follow along with the demonstration, and leave with one or more fruit trees ready to plant in the ground.

Our afternoon session includes a lecture-demonstration, followed by a practice session and individual help with grafting. Unique to this event is the large selection of member donated scion wood on hand, usually from at least 40 different varieties of apples, 10 varieties of pears, and 10 varieties of plums.

Costs: Our workshop and guidance are free. You are welcome to come and learn how to graft without any cost. For those that want to take home a tree, we will have several dwarfing rootstock types for sale as well as member donated scion wood of their choice. Grafting requires a very sharp knife with a 2-3 inch blade. Grafting knives will be available to purchase for those that don’t bring a knife or who find that their knife isn’t up to the task.

Important: Regretfully, space is limited. Only the individuals actually grafting fruit trees will be allowed in the grafting classroom. Friends, spouses, and children are welcome to explore the grounds during the sessions.

When is the best time to prune?

If your main goal is to invigorate the tree and encourage new growth, you should prune when the tree is dormant, typically in the winter, or at least fairly early in the growing season. Hardy trees such as apple or pear can be pruned any time in the dormant period. Cold sensitive trees like cherry and plum should be pruned closer to the end of winter.

Is dwarf tree fruit different?

Absolutely not. It’s the tree, not the fruit, that is dwarfed. A dwarf tree just doesn’t produce as much fruit.

Dwarf vs. full size tree?

Typically, the dwarf trees will have a shorter waiting period for bearing fruit. This could be as much as 5 years difference in apple trees. They don’t spread out as much, so if space is a limitation, you can get more trees into any given area. Dwarf trees are typically 20 to 40 percent the size of a full tree. This translates into advantages when it comes to spraying, pruning, picking fruit, applying nets, etc. Generally people plant full size trees if they have lots of space and they want a larger yield of fruit. Most backyard orchardists generally are better off with dwarf trees.

What variety of fruit tree do I have?

This is hard to tell without seeing the fruit directly, but giving certain information might help, such as color of the skin, texture (smooth or russet), shape and size of the fruit, when the fruit is ready for picking (early summer, etc.). We cannot promise a positive identification, but we might be able to eliminate varieties.

How can I protect my trees from pests?

Some people try organic pesticides or hang up sticky traps, which can be found at mail order companies like Gardens Alive, but in many cases they are only partially effective. You may need a chemical pesticide to protect your trees. Start with dormant oil spray in the early spring to kill overwintering eggs and larvae. Follow up periodically with a fungicide-insecticide spray. Some of the liquid orchard sprays available in stores are easy to use and fit this need. Do not spray insecticides when there are blossoms, as this will kill the bees come to pollinate them. You also want to keep the trees watered and fertilized as needed.

It sounds like a lot of work, and it certainly isn’t a trivial task. If you want clean fruit and healthy trees, that is your choice. Be sure not to spray a few weeks before harvest to allow the chemicals to dissipate, and wash the fruit before eating.

Additional Information on Grafting

See our reference lists for mail order sources for rootstock and/or scion wood;
our MidFex grafting video demonstrations;
Cornell University cleft grafting document;
Cornell University Whip and Tongue grafting document;

rootstock preparation at grafting workshop — sorting scion wood at grafting workshop