How to bud an orange

Orange trees (Citrus sinensis) add aesthetic value to any lawn or landscape, but may not produce the sweetest fruit when planted from seed. This is because the orange’s taste is dependent on the genetic qualities of the fruit. The sweet and familiar taste of oranges comes from only a few species that are, in a sense, cloned using a process called budding. Thousands of years old, this process requires no lab equipment and can provide even the home gardener with the sweet taste of oranges year after year.

Choose a Tree

Budding an orange tree consists of transplanting a new growth bud from a scion tree to a naturally growing orange tree. This process can shock the system of both the bud and the tree, and a weak specimen in either case can result in a failure to properly incorporate the bud. Orange trees to be budded can be either young or established, but should be free of disease, infestation and stress from drought or lack of fertilizer. Also, the tree receiving the bud should feature bark that peels easily away from the wood when scored with a knife.

Choose a Bud

Select the bud of a healthy plant to increase the chances of successful budding. The bud should come from a tree branch that is no larger than 1/4 inch in diameter and is less than one year old. Ensure that the tree with the new growth bud is in its dormant stage, since active growing buds will not graft to the new tree properly.


Preparing the Bud

Once a good branch is selected, locate the plumpest bud nodule on the branch and make a crosscut incision 3/4 inch above the bud. This is where you will start to cut into the branch. Slide a sharp knife sideways into this cut and gently push forward, cutting away the bud along with a small piece of wood from the branch underneath. Once cut away, avoid touching the wet bottom area of the bud, since the oils from your hand can contaminate the bud.


Preparing the Tree

For the tree receiving the bud, select a branch that is between 1/2 and 3/4 inch in diameter. Choose a spot that doesn’t get much sunlight, since too much heat can cause problems with the budding process. Once selected, cut a horizontal line across the branch in the intended budding area with a knife. Cut another, slightly longer line with the knife down the length of the branch, creating a T formation. Gently peel back the bark from the corners made by the cuts and insert the new bud into the pocket.

Wrapping Up

Once the tree bud is inserted, cover the entire budded area with rubber strips or dark-colored tape. This will ensure the bud stays moist during the grafting process. After 3 weeks, remove the covering and examine the bud. If it is green and alive, the budding process was successful; if not, the process should be repeated.
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