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Patch budding is used for species that have thick bark like pecans (Carya). The thick bark makes T- and chip budding difficult.

The distinguishing feature of patch budding is that a rectangular patch of bark containing a single bud is taken from the scion and placed into a similar patch taken from the rootstock.

Photo showing a rectangular patch of a scion containing a bud, and a similar patch removed from a rootstock.

Specialized tools that act as templates or double bladed knives are used to get matching sized patches from the scion and rootstock.

Photo showing a tool with two parallel knif blades to create consistently sized cuts for patch budding.

Photo showing a tool to create a template for consistently sized cuts for patch budding.

An illustration the two steps each needed for preparing the rootstock, as well as preparing the bud. Step one for preparing the rootstock requires a double-bladed knife being used to make two parallel horizontal cuts about one-third the distance around the rootstock. In step two the two horizontal cuts are connected at each size by vertical cuts. Step one for preparing the bud requires the patch containing the bud being cut from the bud stick by two horizontal cuts with the double-bladed knife. This is followed by step two where two vertical cuts are made on each side of the bud. The bud patch is removed by sliding it off to one side.

Illustration showing inserting the bud into the rootstock. The rootstock with patch is shown. Be sure edges of the bud patch match up to the rootstock patch. The inserted patch read for wrapping is shown how it should look, fitting tightly in the opening on all four sides. The final step shows the union then wrapped with grafting tape or poly strips, using care to cover all the cuts, but leaving the bud exposed.