Bush: Tree of 2-4 years old, pruned to produce branching on a clear stem of 60-70cm.

Half Standard: Tree of 3-5 years old, pruned to produce branching on a clear stem of 90-120cm.

Root Stocks:

Apples:
Bush – M26 / M106 Half Standard – M26 / MM106
M26 – Semi dwarfing. Reliable root stock for fruiting, good for bush or half standard.
M106 – Semi dwarfing. Good all round stock for small gardens.
MM106 – Semi vigorous. Outstanding root stock for bush or half standard.

Pears:
Bush – Quince A Half Standard – Seedling Pear / Pyrus Communis
Quince A – semi-dwarfing. Suitable for small garden. Early fruiting.
Seedling Pear / Pyrus Communis – Vigorous rootstock for strong bush or half standard.

Plums:
Bush – St Julien A Half Standard – Myrobalan
St Julien A – Good dwarfing rootstock for Bush plums, gages and damsons.
Myrobalan – Vigorous Rootstock for Half standard plums, gages and damsons.

Cherries:
Bush – Colt Half Standard – Colt / Avium
Colt – Dwarfing rootstock suitable for cherries in small gardens.
Avium – Vigorous stock for larger trees.

PLANTING ADVICE

When planting your fruit tree, prepare a hole up to three times the diameter of its root system. Fork over the base of the pit in readiness, incorporating plenty of organic matter into the backfill and planting hole.

Use a stake and soft tree tie to secure the tree, avoid driving the stake through the roots – if in doubt, cross stake as opposed to vertical staking.

Avoiding frozen and waterlogged soil, trees should be planted out as they arrive. If you’ve ordered a bare root tree, should the roots feel overly dry, soak them in a bucket of water for half an hour prior to planting. If immediate planting is not possible, they can be heeled in temporarily, covering their roots with soil, or potted up. Protect from cold, drying winds.

Apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring to support growth and fruiting. Lightly prune in summer to reduce the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker, to retain an open ‘goblet’ shape and remove any damaged, diseased or broken branches.