Night Soil

No. 12 Autumn 2025

plants · No. 12

Grafting Basics: Knife, Wax, Patience

Three parts preparation, one part courage — the honest truth about the oldest horticultural trick.

Photograph accompanying this essay

Grafting is three parts preparation and one part courage. A sharp knife, a clean cut, and a steady hand are worth more than any proprietary compound in the shed.

We cover the whip-and-tongue for apples and pears, the tools that actually matter, and the honest truth about failure rates: the tree forgives most mistakes, but not dull steel.

Back to the magazine