Saturday 8 March 2025
The course runs from 10:30am to 1:30pm in Stanmer Park, Brighton.
Learn how to graft fruit trees using the technique of side and splice grafting on this half day workshop.
What will the Fruit tree grafting course cover?
The workshop will encourage participants to develop practical skills in the propagation of fruit trees such as apple, pear, plum and cherry. We will discuss the commercial production of fruit trees and how fruit trees can be propagated on a smaller scale in the garden.
Experience will be gained in the use of a grafting knife, concentrating on the technique of side and splice grafting of apple varieties onto a rootstock. This type of grafting is carried out in early March and participants will be able to take home their own grafted tree.
Background information will be provided on the selection and purchase of rootstocks, collection of propagating material and growing on of the trees. Details will also be given about the availability of all the materials used during the day.
The techniques learned can also be applied to a wide variety of ornamental trees including cultivars of crab apple, flowering cherry, mountain ash, whitebeam, ash and maple.
These skills are useful to anyone who wishes to propagate fruit and ornamental trees commercially, or on a smaller scale in the garden.
The course will also cover the maintenance and sharpening of grafting knives. We will be using very sharp knives which should be handled with great care. A first aider will be available to administer plasters should the need arise.
Who is the Fruit tree grafting course for?
The course will be of interest to gardeners and horticulturalists as well as the less experienced. No prior knowledge of grafting is needed. This course is open to anyone aged 16 or over.
We will be outside, using gazebos for shelter if necessary. The workshop involves working with grafting knives and tying materials.
Learning methods and outcomes
The course will start with a discussion on the techniques used in grafting fruit trees, while the majority of the course will be devoted to gaining practical experience with guidance from the tutor.
There will be plenty of material to practice and gain confidence with before making several of your own grafts. Everyone will take home a tree they have grafted and there will be the option to buy several others at the cost price of materials (£3 per tree).
By the end of the course, participants will have the practical skills necessary to propagate fruit trees and a variety of ornamental trees.
Information sheets will be provided on the day.
What does the Fruit tree grafting course lead on to?
This short specialist course is not accredited and does not lead directly to any other qualification, but would be useful to people working in horticulture or those who wish to widen their propagating skills.
Course tutor
Tuition will be provided by Peter May, a horticulturalist who has propagated a wide range of fruit and ornamental trees. He is jointly responsible for the management of several community orchards and runs regular courses for Brighton Permaculture Trust on a range of orchard skills. Peter is co-author of Apples & Orchards in Sussex and is particularly interested in growing varieties of apples which have a close connection to the county of Sussex.
Venue/Accommodation
Stanmer Park (near University of Sussex)
Brighton
Sussex
South East England
Get directions to Stanmer Park.
If you intend to book accommodation, please check availability before booking a place, as accommodation in Brighton can be hard to find, especially over the summer months.
Get details on local accommodation and Brighton Permaculture Trust supporters who can provide accommodation in their homes.
Grafting knives
We would recommend that everyone who attends the workshop has their own good quality knife. Tina knives are the best but are expensive, but it is also possible to obtain cheap knives with a good blade from Victorinox and Opinel.
The best quality grafting knives are made by Tina of Germany. The knife blades are made from a high quality steel which can be sharpened to a good edge. The knives are used commercially in the horticulture industry and are the best available.
PG Horticulture has Tina Grafting knives, code 685 and 605
Knives and Tools stocks Opinel knife No8.
Victorinox also make a knife, Model 19200, which can be used for grafting and Opinel make general purpose knife, Model 08, which has a decent blade.
A good quality, fine wetstone is also essential for knife sharpening:
Large, bench sharpening stones
Small, sharpening stones with flat and curved surface, Code G41
Recommended reading
This book is recommended but it is not necessary for those attending to have bought them or read it.
- Grafters Handbook, RJ Garner
Fees
Fees include tuition, refreshments and information sheets.
- £100 – Sponsored/organisation rate
- £100 – Individual income more than 25k/yr
- £80 – Individual income 18-25k/yr
- £60 – Individual income less than 18k/yr
- £30 – Individual, concessionary rate (check your eligibility)*
*Concessionary places are limited. If places are not available check back two weeks before the course/event as more may be available then.
We endeavour to make our courses and events affordable to all. Unfortunately, we do not receive any external funding for most of these and rely on large amounts of voluntary input.
See the cancellations and refunds policy.
Booking the Fruit tree grafting course
Booking is essential, as most of our courses/events are fully booked weeks in advance. However, if places are still available, then bookings can be made until midday the day before the course/event. A place is not secured until we have received the requested payment.
If you have completed the booking process but you haven’t received a confirmation email from us please contact us to check your booking has gone through.
If you are booking within two weeks of the event, or the event is nearly full, you will not have the option to pay by cheque or BACS. Instead, you will need to pay immediately using a credit/debit card or PayPal.
Book for 8 March 2025 course
*To be added to the waiting list please use the Make an Enquiry button at the bottom of this page.