We are eagerly anticipating our first graft-able Avocado rootstock in the next week or two. This is one of my favorite types of grafting. It is highly successful for us, easy to learn for beginners, and gives quick results which allow for technique adjustment during the grafting season (December through 13 April).
In our avocado budwood we are looking for mature buds along the stem of avocado branches. We use both side and terminal buds when we graft.
To prepare the budwood we remove the leaves, being careful to not damage the buds at the base of the leaf petioles. Because we can graft using the side buds as well we will often get 2-3 grafts from one stick of budwood. We also like to choose our budwood from branch tips that are growing straight instead of those with a strong curve to them.
When the buds are too far pushed we avoid them for grafting. However you can cut off terminal buds that are too far pushed (yellow circle below) and use the remaining side buds that are not as far along (red circle below).
