Rootstocks - Unsung Heros

The art of grafting is nothing new. Evidence of the Chinese using grafting techniques has been discovered dating back to as early as 1560 BC. The joining of two pieces of living tissue, or grafting, is used with fruit and ornamental trees, berries, vegetables and many other plant varieties. The purpose of grafting is to combine qualities of the scion with that of the rootstock. More obvious is the selected qualities of the scion, like fruit taste or appearance. But what about the hardworking rootstock?
Rootstocks Can Control the Size of the Tree
The rootstock can help control the mature size of a tree. Standard size, semi-dwarf or dwarf are available in most fruit tree varieties. You should also control the size of the tree by pruning, but the rootstock will help as well. If you are limited in space or need to grow in a container, dwarf trees are great choices. If you have the room but don’t want to break your neck with tall ladders, a semi-dwarf is a good size tree.