Dodgy roots on young stock

[kev7937]

When I bought my place I inherited some young fruit trees that I'd guess are 2-3 m in height with maybe 10cm diameter stems at ground level, I noticed today an apple and a pear that hadn't taken root at all

 

Don't know much mor history but I guess they've been in 5 Or 6 years.

 

So is there any hope for them ? Should I cut my losses and get them out now or is it worth giving them a couple of seasons to see what happens ?

[kev7937]

Little bump...

[woodyguy]

Depends what root stock they're grafted onto.

If its fully dwarfing then its often surprising how little root there is growing. If the top growth is flourishing then I'd stick with them. If they are stunted rather than dwarfed then I'd have them out.

[agg221]

How do you know they have no root?

 

Alec

[kev7937]

They're growing pretty well but the apple is particularly wobbly wouldn't take much to push it over .

[agg221]

OK, it's got some roots, just not very solid. You would probably find a few structural roots but a lack of good fibrous structure. The root system on dwarfed fruit trees can be a bit weak (it's how they stay dwarf). Once they get blown a bit, they develop 'wind rock' where the top sways, breaking the smaller roots as they try to establish, so they struggle to get going again.

 

To break the cycle, I would knock in a stake, diagonally so it's away from the root system. I would use a bit of sweet chestnut, robinia or oak heartwood as you want it to survive longer than an untreated softwood post will. Work out which way the prevailing winds blow and put the stake on the upwind side, so the tree blows away from it, rather than on to it - this will stop it rubbing the bark. I would then tie it fairly securely - I use old pushbike inner tube from the local cycle shop, just remember to check it's not too tight each year.

 

I would also make the soil nice and encouraging for the young roots by putting a good mulch out to the drip line, something well rotted, over a double layer of cardboard so it kills the weeds and then the worms drag it in.

 

Give it 3yrs or so and it should be fine.

 

Alec

[Lee Winger]

I'm pretty sure most dwarf rootstock trees remain stacked there entire life

[kev7937]

Did the mulch and cardboard a couple of years ago and would have thought I would have noticed the rock then, its pretty sheltered in a suburban garden so doesn't get too windy.

 

I thought perhaps bad planting or the stock in general may be bad and it could be doomed.

 

Ill stake it and see how it goes, just don't want to spend time on it never for it to recover

[kev7937]

I'm pretty sure most dwarf rootstock trees remain stacked there entire life

 

Sorry don't know what you mean by stacked here.

[woodyguy]

Dwarf trees need to have a STAKE for their entire life as they are not self supporting.