Fruit trees are often grafted onto rootstocks to affect the height, adaptability and fruit bearing. Height can also be controlled with pruning. Commonly used Rootstocks include:
- Nemaguard
Vigorous, resistant to root-knot Nematode. In slower draining soils, plant on a mound or berm. Unpruned tree height of standard varieties is 15-25’. Used on stone fruits.
- Citation
Dwarfs peaches and nectarines to 8-14’, apricots and plums to 12-18’. Tolerant of wet soils and induces heavy bearing at a young age.
- Colt
In heavy soils, standard cherries are dwarfed to about 3/4 of standard. 22-30’, but can be kept to any desired height by summer pruning.
- Mariana 26-24
Used for apricots, plums, most almonds. Shallow root system, tolerant of wet soils. Resists oak-root fungus and root-knot nematodes. 15-20’ for most varieties if left unpruned but may be held to any desired height with summer pruning.
- M-111
Used for apples. Tolerates wet, dry or poor soils. Resists wooly apple aphids. Induces bearing at a young age. Unpruned height of tree is 80-90% of a standard or about 15-20’