By Jeff Kanters, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County
Are you interested in learning or refreshing your skills on how to propagate woody plants, including your own fruit and nut trees? How about taking a deeper dive into winter and summer pruning of fruit trees or planting and managing trees in our warming climate zone? Interested in participating in the annual fruit or nut tree scion exchange? Read on, because we’re pleased to announce several opportunities to discover the world of grafting this February.
(Left to right) Hands-on learning at last year’s scion grafting workshop and detailed image of a successful graft. (Image credit: Left, Pamela Dempsey; Right, Sara Smith)
Pruning, Plant Selection, and Grafting Classes and Workshop
Date and Time: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: NC Cooperative Extension building at 721 Foster Street, Durham, NC 27701
The Durham County Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers invite you to learn with us and also have hands-on-practice grafting hardwood plants at our annual grafting workshop. You must register for the classes and workshop. Seats are limited. Cost: $10.
Here’s the class lineup:
9:00 to 9:25 – Winter and Summer Pruning
9:30 to 10:00 – Selecting Trees for a Changing Climate
10:00 to 10:50 – Grafting demo and hands on workshop
For more details and registration.
Annual Scion Exchange
The Scion Exchange in action. (Image credit: The Triangle Fruit and Nut Growers Group)
Date and Time: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: NC Cooperative Extension building at 721 Foster Street, Durham, NC 27701
Calling all home-and-small orchardists! We encourage you to bring scions (twigs) from your garden or orchard from the growth of last year’s twigs of fruit trees, berries, kiwi, and/or grapes to exchange with others to share at the scion exchange. The more plant varieties people bring, the better the choices will be. You may find a new variety you want to graft. No registration is needed and the event is free for all participants.
So What is a Scion (if the term is new to you)?
(Left to right) Many scions labeled, bagged, wrapped in damp paper towels, and ready to graft onto root stock. A closeup of a grafted scion. (Image credit: Triangle Fruit and Nut Growers)
Scions are twigs representing last year’s growth, typically 12-18 inches in length and roughly the diameter size of a pencil. They can come from fruit trees, grapes, kiwi, berries, or woody ornamentals. Scions are used to graft onto existing trees or new root stock. At this event, you will collect and bring home scions (twigs) to graft onto your existing tree or rootstock.
How to Collect and Prepare Scions for Grafting
For detailed instructions on collecting and preparing your scions, see the Triangle Fruit and Nut Growers page for step by step instructions. You can also email KatCauseyEMGV@gmail.com with any questions. For more general info about the event, click here.
Key items to bring to the Scion Exchange if you have them:
- Bagged and labeled scions wrapped in a moist paper towel at the base to share with others
- Plastic bags to collect new scions
- Permanent marker such as a Sharpie
- Masking tape or blue painter’s tape for labeling
- Twist ties
Resources and Additional Information
Want to know more about propagation and growing tree fruit and nuts in your home
garden? Check out these two chapters from the North Carolina Extension Gardener Handbook.
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/13-propagation
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/15-tree-fruit-and-nuts
For more information on grafting techniques, see NCSU Grafting and Budding Publication. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/grafting-and-budding-nursery-crop-plants
The Missouri Extension Service also has a helpful online resource on grafting. https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6971#:~:text=Grafting%20is%20the%20act%20of,be%20a%20combination%20of%20several.
On the blog, read about other hardwood propagation methods using scions. https://wp.me/p2nIr1-5B7
Edited by Melinda Heigel, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County
Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-6Ye
