Removing the wood, even when the bark is slipping very well, looks like it might damage the bud. On some things it apparently doesn't. Good to know that it apparently does damage the persimmon bud and likely other species. The only reason to remove the wood is for a better fit. On thin barked things like apricot when the wood is small diameter, removing the wood markedly improves fit of the bud under the bark of the T. I've never tried to do T budding with dormant scion wood. Have tried it doing patch budding of pecan with scions collected during the dormant season. The bud sticks were brought out of the frig several days prior to trying the patch buds. Higher temps were supposed to make the bark slip but it was difficult to get the bud patches off the wood and we only had about 50% takes. Don't want to try that again. If the bark isn't slipping easily on the rootstock, it is hard or immpossible to T bud. If you have to dig around to try to open the bark, takes will be few and far between. On the other hand, I can see it working if the scion is not slipping but don't try to dig the wood out of the bud. Instead, I'd try to cut the bud thinner so there was less wood and a better fit. Or with a dormant scion, just do some kind of grafting instead. Yesterday I grafted nine sweet cherry varieties using dormant scions onto a tree past bloom with bark slipping very well. That seemed easier than budding. I'll start budding after the new wood matures. The Fruitnut

Okay you guys--I'll keep the buds just as they are. That graft was from a very old (yellow pear tree over 60 years) and it's still making fruit. Looks like it's going down hill now. Many thanks Lou NE., PA

That's awesome. Its something I've been practicing as well. Although mine aren't that impressive. I grafted 5 buds onto my dads apple tree. The variety is unknown but 3 of the 5 are alive. They haven't grown prolifically but have survived. We are planning to top work the trees and give them their first pruning in late winter. We'll see how the buds do after the pruning

Buyali: In the absence of a photo, you could give us a better description of just how high you are placing the grafts on the rootstocks. If they are close to the ground, your problem could as well be rabbits as deer. If you suspect animals of some type, the rootstock may have to be protected with a circle of wire. You describe the damage as on the "tip of the emerging leaf", which would tend to suggest insects, but many types of insects eat and move on, and would no longer be on the leaves when you look at them with your magnifier. I don't know what active ingredient is contained in Wilson's Bug Spray (the label should say), but it may not be effective against what you are targeting. Try malathion or permethrin. I don't think I would put grease on my rootstocks. If it is petroleum-based grease, it could damage the tissue. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA