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Spring is the time for grafting, but before delving into the world of grafting, let’s have a chat about grafting knives.

We’re never in favour of spending money unnecessarily in the garden, and it’s quite possible to achieve good grafting results with any sharp knife.

However, having the proper tools is like having the key to a locked door. It opens up the potential for great results.

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The right grafting tools can make a difference

We’ve learned a lot from Merv (Katie’s dad) about the importance of using the right tools when you’re getting into budding and grafting. It’s one of the variables that you can control, which might increase your chances of success.

Merv started learning the craft of growing fruit and grafting almost 70 years ago when he was studying at Burnley Horticultural College. He’s refined his skills ever since, first working on his father’s orchard, then running his own orchard for 40 years.

Since we took over the farm in 1998, Merv has continued to pass on his skills to Katie and her sister Liz in the family nursery business. Merv has shown us that having the right tools is a big deal in the world of grafting.

Merv’s special grafting knife

One thing that stands out is Merv’s knife. With more than 50 years of grafting and careful sharpening under its blade, it is truly a testament to the crafting of his art.

There isn’t much left of the blade, because over time, it’s been honed by years of sharpening. The blade curves almost into a hook, and before every grafting session, it gets touched up again. This routine is like a salute to all the hard work he’s put into becoming great at grafting.

The stone he uses to sharpen his knife has a special story, too. It too has been worn down drastically on the favoured sharpening edge. After every sharpening, it gets carefully wrapped back up in a cloth until the next time.

It’s like he’s keeping a piece of history safe.

How to buy a good grafting knife

When it comes to choosing a grafting knife, it’s worth thinking about the balance between cost and quality.

A knife is one of those tools where the difference really shows: cheaper knives can be tempting, but they’re often made from softer steel that doesn’t hold an edge well. That means you’ll be sharpening more often, and even then, the blade may not cut as cleanly as you’d like.

Investing in the best quality knife you can reasonably afford usually pays off in the long run. Higher-grade steel takes a razor-sharp edge and holds it for much longer, which means your cuts will be smoother and more accurate—and your grafts more likely to succeed.

Having the right tool also makes the work more enjoyable, as you’ll spend less time fighting a dull blade and more time focusing on practising the skill. Think of it as an investment not just in a tool, but in your chances of success.

A fruit tree root cut to be grafted — *A fruit tree root ready to be grafted*

Taking care when grafting

Grafting can be a little nerve-wracking, especially with a freshly sharpened knife. Slicing thin bits of wood into just the right shape, cutting little tongues into the wood, and then matching them up with the slice you’ve made on the rootstock perfectly …. there are a lot of details to get right.

Grafting needs careful attention, and most experienced grafters have managed to cut themselves at some stage.

Handling a sharp knife calls for caution. But ironically, you’re much less likely to get cut if your knife is very sharp. A blunt knife means clumsy cutting, which means a greater likelihood of slipping.

It might not seem obvious at first, but learning how to keep your grafting knife sharp is one of the key grafting skills.

Learning to graft takes time

As spring comes around, it’s almost time to start grafting, just when the sap is starting to move sufficiently in the trees to help the grafts ‘take’ (fingers crossed).

This is the time when grafting is most likely to work well, so there’s a relatively short window of opportunity to test out your grafting skills each year.

If the grafts don’t take, don’t worry! There’s always the chance to take a second shot at the end of summer, when you can try ‘budding’ onto any rootstock where the graft failed.

The journey you’re taking into the world of grafting is something special. Merv, with his almost 70 years of experience, is sharing his wisdom with you through us. All of our grafting courses, videos, insights, techniques, and love for grafting come from him and are like a bridge between generations.

As you keep learning and improving, know that Merv’s legacy lives on through every successful graft you make.

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