The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 12 Autumn 2015 High res | Page 24

In the rose garden

GRAFTING ROSES with Gil
Grafting is the preferred method of propagating most rose
varieties. Several techniques have been successfully developed
over time: in this article we will discuss a method of chip-budding
which, in our experience, consistently yields good results.

The ‘underground’ portion, referred
to as the rootstock, provides the root
system for the plant.
Grafting is the method by which tissue
or plant parts from both the scion and
rootstock are joined together resulting
in a single grafted plant.

Why the need for a
rootstock?

As mentioned above, garden rose
varieties are selected mainly for the
way they grow, but more importantly
their characteristics that impart such
beauty to their blooms, with little
or no regard for their rooting ability.
Rootstock varieties, on the other
hand, are selected for their vigorous,
healthy root systems, some of them
being resistant to serious soil pests
and diseases. We can therefore
confidently expect the root systems
of grafted plants to be uniformly
vigorous and healthy.

Harvesting rootstock canes

It is common practice in
Zimbabwe when planting a
rose bush to keep the bud
union above ground level to
prevent the sc [ۈ