Vegetative Propagation: How to Clone Your Best Fruit Trees

Imagine you have a fruit tree in your garden that produces the most delicious apples year after year. Wouldn't it be brilliant if you could make more trees exactly like it? That's what vegetative propagation allows you to do, and it's the reason commercial orchards can produce consistent crops season after season.

Why vegetative propagation is important

If you have an apple tree in your garden, chances are it was created the old-fashioned way, with pollen from one tree fertilising the flower of another, producing a fruit with seeds that eventually grew into a new tree. This all sounds beautifully natural, but the problem is that the new tree ends up with a genetic mix from both parents, so its growth and fruit quality are completely unpredictable.

For most of us this isn't a big deal, unless you're a massive fan of apple pies and need a reliable supply of your favourite variety. But for orchard owners who depend on consistent harvests, leaving things to chance isn't really an option. Vegetative propagation solved this problem by making it possible to clone the best trees and produce identical copies with the same yield and fruit quality every time.

What is vegetative propagation?

Vegetative propagation simply means growing new plants from parts of an existing plant rather than from seeds. Because you're not mixing genes from two different trees, every new plant is a genetic clone of the original. This is why it's sometimes called asexual propagation.

There are a few different ways to do it, and each has its pros and cons depending on what you're working with.

Vegetative propagation methods

Cuttings

This is the simplest form of vegetative propagation. You take a cutting from your tree and plant it in soil, where it will hopefully grow roots and turn into a new tree with identical characteristics to the parent. It's straightforward but can be a bit hit and miss, as the cutting has no root system to support it while it gets established, leaving it vulnerable to pests and disease.

Layering

Layering is a clever vegetative propagation trick that gives new plants a much better chance of survival. You take a low-hanging branch, bend it down to the ground, and bury part of it in the soil with just the leafy tip poking out. The buried section will start to grow its own roots while still getting water and nutrients from the parent tree. Once the new root system is strong enough, you cut the connection and you've got yourself a brand new tree.

Air layering

Air layering works on the same principle but is handy for branches that won't reach the ground. You make a small wound in the branch, wrap it in damp moss inside a plastic bag, and tie it shut. Roots will grow from the wound while the branch is still being fed by the parent tree. Once they're established, you can cut the branch off and plant it.

Grafting

Grafting is the most popular vegetative propagation method for fruit trees in commercial settings. You take a shoot from your best tree and physically attach it to the rootstock of another tree that's been chosen for its own useful qualities, like fast growth or disease resistance.

To get them to bond, you need to make sure the living tissue just under the bark is in firm contact on both pieces, which takes a bit of delicate work. Once they're joined, they'll grow together as one tree, combining the fruiting qualities of one with the root strength of the other.

Which vegetative propagation method should you use?

It depends on what you're trying to achieve and how many trees you want to grow.

- Cuttings are easy but success rates can be lower

- Layering works well for trees with flexible branches close to the ground

- Air layering is great for branches higher up that can't be bent down

- Grafting gives you the most control and is the go-to for serious fruit growers

Want to know more?

If you'd like to learn more about vegetative propagation or you're happy with one or two fruit trees in your garden and you're looking for someone to help keep them healthy for years to come, the team at Thor's Trees is always happy to help. Give us a call for friendly advice or to arrange a visit.

FAQ’S

Why do fruit growers use vegetative propagation?

Because trees grown from seed are unpredictable. They inherit a mix of genes from two parents, so you never quite know what you're going to get. Vegetative propagation lets growers copy their best trees exactly, so every new tree produces the same quality fruit as the original.

Can I try vegetative propagation at home?

Absolutely. Layering is probably the easiest place to start because the new plant stays connected to the parent while it develops roots, so there's less risk of it failing. Grafting takes a bit more practice but it's very rewarding once you get the hang of it.

When should I do vegetative propagation?

It depends on the method. Hardwood cuttings are best taken in autumn or winter when the tree is dormant, while softwood cuttings do better in late spring or early summer. Grafting is usually done in late winter or early spring, and layering works well from spring through to early summer.

What's the difference between vegetative propagation and growing from seed?

Growing from seed mixes genes from two parent plants, so the result is unpredictable. Vegetative propagation creates exact clones of a single parent, which means you know exactly what you're going to get.