Grafting is one of the essential steps in precise gardening and also a complicated one. To perform successful grafting, it is crucial to be geared up with the right equipment. Grafting is a specific method to achieve a hybrid reproduction of one graft of the plant with another, causing the tissues to intertwine and grow up as one. The project needs a careful approach and sharp blades to cut a flat and smooth graft to ensure optimal contact with the perfected graft. The best grafting knife can help you achieve that quickly; it features a single beveled razor-sharp edge with a chisel or flat grind to help you get a clean cut.
So, if you are looking to get one that suits your needs and isn’t unnecessarily pricey, you’re at the right place! Since the market has tons of options you can select from, it’s easy to get confused. Also, there are many things one should prioritize and look out for; knowing them beforehand makes the process easy. I’ve prepared this list of my top 5 choices of grafting knives in the present market. Make sure to check them out before selecting one to make sure you aren’t missing out on anything.
Top 5 Grafting Knives in the Market
- Victorinox Budding & Grafting Knife
Whether you own a backyard garden or a whole nursery, you won’t be short-handed with this Victorinox in your hand. Apart from its excellent craftsmanship, it’s multi-purpose, so you can do grafting, bark-lifting, budding all with one unit.
This swiss made knife features a 4-inch-long ally-lined stainless steel sharp edge, accompanied by a strong bevel. The blade will resist rust and corrosion at a higher degree by default, so you needn’t worry yourself with long hours of maintenance and oiling the blade. The 2-¼ inches long bark-lifter will come in handy on many occasions; you can use the knife in budding as well. You can use the notch on the spine to open and close it.
The polyamide handle of the blade is just as sturdy. The bright red will catch your eyes easily. Even though the locking mechanism is manual, it is designed to be safe and secure, so no chance to have it accidentally opened in your pocket.
Pros:
- Ultra-sharp blade.
- Holds an edge well.
- Durable & beautiful build.
- Stable triple-riveted handle.
Cons:
- The blade doesn’t lock when opened.
- NAYE Grafting Gardening Knife
The NAYE gardening knife is equally handy in pruning, budding, grafting, etc. This product covers the whole package you may need in basic grafting with a two-bladed folding knife, a grafting tape, and 12 write-on metal labels with threads to mark the plants.
This compact knife features two blades, one straight blade with bar-lifter and one hawkbill-shaped curved edge. The stainless steel blade measures about 2-⅝ inches, making it compact and also effective in detail work. The straight blade’s primary use is budding and grafting, while the hawkbill can be used in many fields, such as severing ropes, harvesting herbs, mushrooms, and even carving. It’s a game-changer in any gardening kit.
The 3.94 inches long rosewood handle gives off a premium feel when held; it’s also very well designed with three strong rivets. It’s unlikely to ever slip out of your grip, even if it turns sweaty. The tapes and labels are very functional too.
Pros:
- Multi-purpose application.
- Two sharp blades; one hawkbill shaped.
- High-resistance against rust.
- Sturdy wooden handle.
- Includes degradable grafting tape with metal labels.
Cons:
- Stiff opening.
- It doesn’t come sharpened.
- FUNTECK 2-in-1 Grafting Tools Pruner Kit
The Funteck Grafting tool kit is an ideal buy if you are looking for a full grafting set. Whether you prefer omega-grafting, V-grafting, or U-grafting, this unit reduces your work considerably with its specialized grafting blades.
The grafting tool offers versatile usage; you can use the three kinds of blades for different grafting styles. It also provides 3 replacement blades; changing the blades is very straightforward; you can follow through by watching tutorial videos. The grafting tool also features pruning scissors that you can use for branch trimming, respectively ⅙ inches and ½ inches in diameter.
This remarkable kit also features a folding grafting knife with 3.4 inches long 4Cr14MoV stainless steel that won’t rust and is very sharp. The wooden handle provides a slip-resistant grip along with a stable construction. You’ll also get a wench and a screwdriver for easy disassembly, 2 paraffin tapes, and one storage case to carry them all together.
Pros:
- A complete grafting set.
- Versatile facilities.
- Includes extra 3x grafting blades.
- Comes with a storage case.
Cons:
- Don’t include user instructions.
- Often reported poor quality control.
- Comkit Grafting Knife
Comkit presents an excellent knife offering multiple uses out of it and not just a gardening knife, thanks to its twin blades and a pointy bark-lifter at the bottom of the knife. Carving, crafting, carpenting, camping, or as a fishing knife, use it as you may; it won’t let you down.
This folding knife houses a 2.4-inch-long straight blade with a flat grind; it’s constructed of stainless steel, so it requires minimum maintenance as it’s unlikely to fall victim to corrosion. You can also use the curved blade for grafting and pruning. The spike at the bottom of the knife is useful as a bark lifter in grafting, but that also marks caution as you cannot use it as a pocket knife because of the exposed pointy end.
The textured green handle is made of PVC, so it won’t slip out of your hand even when it’s wet. The rivets hold the blades sturdily into place. However, hand washing is still recommended to maintain a long high performance.
Pros:
- Great value for the price.
- Spacious, comfy handle.
- Low maintenance.
- Features two blades.
Cons:
- Comes mediocre sharp.
- PGCOKO Garden Grafting Pruning Knife
Last but not least, here’s PGCOKO’s garden knife, which has earned its place for being versatile, ensuring user satisfaction, and top-notch durability. This is a perfect model for both beginners and professionals.
The featured blade measures approximately 2.7 inches long stainless steel blade with a straight edge, best for grafting. On the other hand, the hawkbill is designed with a bent tip that’s handy in collecting mushrooms, digging, weeding, pruning, etc. The construction of the blades is relatively superior with double bevels; it also retains the edge longer.
The knife boasts a traditional look with a handle made of rosewood and three brass rivets. Which along with enriching aesthetic points, strengthens the balance of the blade and provides a hefty base. You also get high-quality disintegrating grafting tape.
Pros:
- Built to last; won’t corrode.
- Ambidextrous design.
- Ergonomic wooden handle.
- Features two sharp blades.
Cons:
- Needs frequent sharpening.
FAQ
Q: Is it necessary to use grafting tapes? Why?
A: Grafting tape is another critical tool relevant to the procedure. It aims to protect the scion and rootstock from external contamination, such as air, water, etc., that causes it to dehydrate. Typically, it’s based on wax; the tape disintegrates with time after fulfilling its purpose.
Some grafting knife packages include the tape as well, which can be a useful feature since you’d have to buy the tape anyway.
Q: What’s the best season for grafting?
A: The best season for grafting is not constant but dependent on what sort of plant you are willing to graft. Such as, if you’re willing to graft fruit trees, the period from late winter to early summer should be perfect. Meaning, you need to collect your scions and rootstocks before you notice budding to achieve successful grafting. Choosing the suitable time of the year to graft ups the chances of a fruitful graft.
Q: What signifies successful grafting?
A: A well-done graft implies that both scion and rootstock’s vascular tissues have adjoined and have started to grow up as one. Even after going through all the mandatory steps, one cannot guarantee sure success, as with science, the health of the plant and experience about the process is also quite important. The plump appearance on the joint points that the growth is expected, while you should keep an eye out for a flaccid look, for that indicates that the grafting needs more attention and it may be failing.
Final Verdict
Choosing the best grafting knife for your gardening tools may prove to be more challenging than you thought it’d be, the choices are never-ending, and each model has one or two unique attributes that may attract you. However, the process is a lot easier if you are updated with the market, know what to expect from a specific price range, etc.
Nowadays, a grafting knife may vary in features too, like designed with two or even three blades, the visual, compactness, quality of the materials, and overall durability require thoughts and considerations. This article is meant to help you by providing ideas about what to look for in your grafting knife. Choosing any of the above will be an excellent investment too, surely.