Fruit trees are usually refined in order to transfer the desired properties of the rootstock, such as vigor, robustness, etc., to the noble variety. However, to prevent the rootstock from sprouting, the finishing point should under no circumstances be placed in the ground.
How deep should you plant a fruit tree with a grafting site?
When planting fruit trees, the grafting point should be positioned at least 10 cm above the surface of the soil in order to avoid unwanted sprouting of the rootstock and impairment of the noble variety. Pay attention to the correct planting depth and the location of the thickening on the root neck.
Locate processing center
Nurseries usually graft fruit trees in three possible places:
- at the root collar: grafting just above the ground, using only the root system of the rootstock
- at the base of the crown: rootstock is used as root and stem former, of the noble variety only the crown
- on the leading branches: often multiple grafting directly in the crown structure, often in trees with several grafted varieties
You can recognize the grafting point by the typical thickening or “kink” in the otherwise even trunk. The younger the tree, the more noticeable it is. However, these areas are often no longer visible on old fruit trees. The thickening at the root neck is particularly relevant for determining the correct planting depth.
Refining determines the growth of the fruit tree
Fruit trees are grafted onto low-growing, medium-strong or strong-growing rootstocks, depending on what final size the tree should reach. For example, if you plant a weakly growing fruit tree too deep, it can suddenly sprout unexpectedly and produce numerous wild shoots. The cause is the unwanted sprouting of the rootstock or the noble rice, which costs the plant strength and also impairs the growth of the noble variety.
Observe the correct planting depth
To prevent this from happening, the correct planting depth must be carefully observed. The grafting point just above the root neck should neither be in the ground nor just above it. Instead, it should be at least ten centimeters above the surface of the earth and therefore not in any contact with the ground. A good guideline is the depth at which the tree was in the pot or container - provided it is potted and not bare-rooted. Remember this carefully, because you should plant the fruit tree just as deep.
What to do if the processing center sprouts?
If you plant the fruit tree too deep, the rootstock can sprout with all the negative consequences. As its own roots form, the noble variety is rejected - sometimes only after a few years. To prevent this, any root runners should be removed as quickly as possible, although a superficial cutting is not enough. Instead, you need to cut off these shoots directly at their origin. You should also remove the soil in which the grafting site is located and cut off the roots that have grown from it.
Tip
If you have voles in the garden, you can plant the rootstock of the fruit tree inside a basket made of rabbit wire (€14.00 on Amazon). Then the rodents have no chance of eating the roots.
