ALCALDE – New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service fruit specialist Shengrui Yao will host a fruit tree grafting workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, at NMSU’s Sustainable Agriculture Science Center at Alcalde.

Grafting is very useful in fruit tree production for both commercial growers and home gardeners. There are many reasons to graft.

“Commercial growers can use grafting to propagate their own trees especially unique cultivars,” Yao said. “Top-grafting can be used to switch cultivars to make the orchard more profitable.”

Home gardeners can graft multiple cultivars in the same tree to keep heirloom cultivars alive, or introduce pollenizer varieties to a solitary tree.

“Grafting can also be used to save trees that have partially damaged bark,” she said.

There will be a presentation first and then another one-hour, hands-on session.

“Please bring a small, sharp knife/grafting knife with you for the hands-on session,” Yao said.

This workshop is limited to 20 participants. For registration, please call Augusta or Anna at 505-852-4241.