In this workshop, participants will explore how to join two different plants together to create a single, superior specimen through grafting, how to trick a high-reaching branch into growing roots while still attached to the mother plant via air layering, and how to surgically separate complex root systems through advanced division. Whether you are looking to clone a rare heirloom fruit tree or revitalize a massive, decades-old perennial, this class provides the technical skills and biological understanding to expand your garden with precision.
Audience Target: All Ages, Parental supervision required for children under 10.
Format: Workshop
Workshop Benefits/Learning Outcomes:
- Execute Precision Grafting Unions: Participants will learn advanced grafting techniques (such as the whip-and-tongue or cleft graft), demonstrating the essential alignment of the scion and rootstock cambium layers for a successful vascular bond.
- Implement Air Layering for Difficult-to-Root Species: Attendees will demonstrate the ability to “wound” a woody stem, apply the correct hormone balance, and create a self-contained moisture chamber using sphagnum moss and poly-wrap to induce adventitious root growth on mature branches.
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- Perform Complex Root and Crown Divisions: Participants will be able to analyze the growth habit of clumping perennials and shrubs to determine the optimal “surgical” points for crown division, ensuring each new section retains the necessary root-to-shoot ratio for survival.
- Analyze Post-Propagation Aftercare: Attendees will learn to manage the “healing environment” including humidity control, light levels, and structural support required to protect new grafts and air layers during the critical period of callus formation and root establishment.
Fee: $20 for non-members, $15 for members
Limited Availability: Please Preregister at: https://shop.capefearbg.org/SelectEvent.aspx?eventID=1000144
Presenter: Chad Shelby has been studying Horticulture since 2018. He has a passion for education and loves to bring excitement and passion to the classroom. He has been the project manager for several pro bono projects, specifically for non-profits organizations. Chad has spent the past six months developing new and exciting Horticulture Education programs for CFBG and is excited to share them with the public.
