Metsugi

Metsugi is a Japanese word that means grafting of buds of a tree into branches and trunks. It is a technique used in bonsai to improve the appearance and health of the tree. Metsugi is usually done in late summer or early autumn, when the buds are dormant. The scion, or the bud to be grafted, is cut from a donor tree of the same species or a compatible one. The stock, or the branch or trunk to receive the graft, is cut or peeled to expose the cambium layer. The scion is then inserted into the stock and secured with tape or wire. The graft should be kept moist and protected from direct sunlight until it heals and forms a union with the stock.