While we specialise in grafted, and budded trees we also sell seedling options for a number of tree species. The term grafting is commonly used to describe the process of grafting a short length of wood containing several buds of the desirable tree onto a rootstock. Budding is the procecess of grafting a single bud from a desirable tree onto a host or rootstock. The main benefit of grafting is that it results in trees that are genetically identical and therfore predictable in appearance and performance.
Seedlings, on the other hand, can be quite variable in the way they grow due to genetic variation and are almost always considerably cheaper than the grafted option. Some seedlings may well be outstanding while others perhaps less inspiring. Generally however a seedling tree will still provide many benefits and is almost always worth growing.
OAKS: seedlings or grafted trees
In the nursery trade oaks can be supplied as seedlings or as grafted trees.
As oaks tend to be quite variable when grown from seed (oaks are heterozygous) grafting ensures a standard, predictable product.
Oaks generally need to be grafted onto a seedling of the same species. Interspecific grafts, i.e. grafting wood from one species onto seedlings of another, commonly done with many plants, are rarely successful with oaks.
For example a grafted English Oak will consist of a piece taken from a single tree, originally a seedling selected for its superior appearance and growth characteristics, which is grafted onto an English Oak seedling.
Oak seedlings are considerably cheaper than grafted trees and while perhaps not suitable for urban situations such as smaller public spaces, street tree plantations and (medium to large) domestic gardens, they can be a great choice for rural situations where some variability is not a problem and may even be an advantage.