The message
from james contains these words:

I have an espaliered nectarine.
It is a simple shape consisting of a single vertical trunk and a series
of horisonlat branches.

Last year I lost a couple of the branches due to a hail storm.

I was hoping that this spring I would see new shoots come from the base
of the original (damaged) branches.
This has not been the case and would like to either graft some new
growth to the trunk with the aim to replace the branch, or if there is
some other way to stimulate new shoots I would be happy to do that.

IMO the easiest way is budding.

Choose a strong-looking bud which you will otherwise rub out or prune
out, and remove it on a wedge of bark.

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Cut a 'T'-shaped incision in the bark where you want the new branch and
slip the wedge in, and bind it up tightly with tape - insulating tape
will do, but garden centres should carry the proper stuff.

In an old book I have (1940), binding with raffia and sealing with wax
is recommended for grafts. You could do this with buds, but tape is
better and less likely to let in water or disease.

--
Rusty
horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/