Yugo: Grafting can be a little more involved than budding, which is the better technique this time of year. You need a rootstock which could be an apple tree in your yard or a potted plant you buy at the store. Then look up instructions about T budding. It is really quite simple if the scion wood is mature enough and the bark is slipping on both scion and rootstock. The bark will be slipping this time of yr if the trees are adequately watered. The bud wood on the crab you want to save will be mature enough in the next month. Once the bark on the new growth of the crab turns from greenish to dark color it is mature enough to bud.

Look up the info about T budding and ask more questions if need be.

The Fruitnut

Thanks for answering my questions. I was hoping it would be you. You are simply the most informed person.

I like to do chip budding for apple trees. It can be done both early (April) and late (August) with success. I grafted several rootstock last August and the buds started growing this spring. For me, chip budding beats any other method I've tried, maybe because I'm kind of fumble fingered and it's fairly easy.