How to Locate a Graft on a Citrus Trees

Grafting is a method of propagating citrus and other fruit trees in order to get more desirable trees that yield fruit sooner, or promote certain fruiting, hardiness or growth characteristics. In grafting, branches of one tree are joined to the roots of another tree. This ensures the more-desirable fruit and branches of one variety are made healthy and strong from the roots of another tree. The location of a graft is important for the citrus gardener to be aware of in order to to properly prune and otherwise care for the tree.

• 1

  Look for a scar somewhere below the lowest branch of the tree. The scar will run around the entire trunk.

• 2

  Look for two different kinds of bark around the scar. The lower bark is the bark from the root-stock tree and the upper bark is from the grafted branch.

• 3

  Inspect the lower portion of the tree for suckers, or small trees growing from the grafting point. Sometimes the root stock will attempt to grow through the graft.

• 4

  Inspect the tree for branches that produce fruit different from the rest of the tree. This will help you locate grafts that are made out of buds or branch stock.