Why a grafting pruner is good: its strengths and weaknesses

Description of the device

Like any other tool of a similar plan, the grafting pruner consists of a working knife, handles, a spring, a stopper. Oftentimes, this pruner also comes with a standard pruning blade as a welcome addition. But what makes this garden knife unusual is the shape of the main blade. It is a stainless steel plate, bent in a special way to obtain a shaped cut.

Depending on the shape of the knife, the cut can be sharp (V-shaped), rounded at the end and extended upward (parabolic), round with a narrow entrance, forming a kind of "lock" (omega-shaped). All forms of notches allow solving the general problem - to expose the cambium layer of the scion and rootstock as much as possible and combine the two branches with each other as best as possible. With the help of a grafting pruner, you can do it yourself with your own hands to inoculate all types of fruit trees, grapes, even graft watermelon lashes on a pumpkin.

Visible benefits

The grafting tool is easy to use and well suited for beginners. Slices on the scion and rootstock are performed in one motion, do not have time to dry out and are combined quickly and tightly, which ensures the best survival rate of the scion.

This is important if the grower has little grafting experience and is not very confident in using the grafting knife. The grafting pruner allows you to automate and speed up the process as much as possible, in addition, it is impossible to cut yourself with the pruner.

However, experienced gardeners should also look into this tool. The speed of the process allows several vaccinations to be made in the same time that needs to be spent on one vaccination with a knife. This saves the gardener's personal time, or you can plant many more trees than usual.

Knives have a long service life - up to three thousand cuts. The knives are easy to change with your own hands, and disassembly is as safe as possible for the user, since the knife is closed until the last moment with a special plastic cover. Thus, we get a useful gardening tool that can be used on all types of fruit trees, from apple to cherry and mountain ash.

Vaccination Tool Video

What are the disadvantages

The grafting pruner is designed primarily for grafting trees with cuttings (copulation). At the same time, there are certain requirements for the scion and stock, and they must be adhered to for the success of the entire operation. The thickness of grafting cuttings is limited to a range of 4-12 mm, depending on the shape of the knife. In addition, the diameters of the rootstock and scion should be as close as possible, even a discrepancy of three millimeters can be critical.

In addition, this tool also requires a certain skill - in order to get a neat, even cut without kinks, and not to damage either the handle or the knife, the blade after making the cut must completely return to its original position.

Due to the shape of the knife, it can be difficult to sharpen with your own hands. Moreover, knives in Chinese-made pruning shears simply cannot be sharpened, they need to be changed regularly. And to buy a grafting pruner with a quality knife, you have to spend well.

We choose from the assortment

The price of a quality pruner with good knives ranges from one thousand to one and a half thousand rubles and, in fact, to infinity. There are a wide variety of models on the market, both unnamed Chinese and branded ones. The most common model is the Professional Grafting Tool. It is a professional tool, the best in its line. It is supplied in different configurations, with one, two or three knives, as well as in a gift version, with a screwdriver for changing knives and in a case. The main advantage of the Professional Grafting Tool is quality materials.

The blades are made of SK5 high-carbon steel and are chrome-plated to resist wear and corrosion. The pruner handles are made of reinforced plastic. The tool is the most massive and widespread, there are a lot of reviews and videos on the Internet about the use of a vaccine pruner of this particular brand. Now an analogue of this Belarusian-made pruner has appeared on sale.

Artitec 3T (Artitec Manual Grafting 3T AR-INN3T) - differs from the previous model in a special knife that allows grafting with a kidney (budding). The knives for this pruner are forged from high carbon steel. The pruner is produced in Italy, which immediately affects its price.

The same manufacturer offers the Artitec Complementary Gtafter - for grafting cuttings up to 4.5 mm in diameter. As mentioned in the name of the tool, this model's grafting pruner serves as an additional tool. They can only perform cuts on the rootstock - when performing a grafting in the split. Scion cuts should be done with other pruning shears, eg Artitec 3T. Which grafting pruner is better is up to the buyers.

How to do it yourself

Some gardeners, having gained experience with purchased pruners, prefer to make a pruner with their own hands, taking into account comments on the factory tool and their own requirements. The manufacture of grafting pruners from garlic is popular, but the main problem here is knives. You will have to grind them yourself or order them from familiar locksmiths. Another way, rather the manufacture of a grafting vise.

For the basics, small vices are taken, which can be found in the household of every amateur locksmith. A sharp curved blade is attached to the pin, and the cut itself is made not by pressing, but by turning the handle. This procedure takes a little longer than working with a factory pruner, but allows you to feel the satisfaction of a job well done with your own hands.

Video "Overview of grafting secateurs"

To understand which of the selected garden tools is most suitable for working with tree grafting, we suggest watching the following video review.