Are dwarf trees better?
Dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit trees are easier to maintain (prune, spray, harvest, etc. We consider any tree that grows to 15 feet tall or less a dwarf tree. We have included ornamental trees, evergreen trees, flowering trees, and dwarf fruit trees in this section. Small trees are great for any landscape or garden, especially ones with limited space.General Size Guidelines by Species Dwarf: 8-10ft. Semi-Dwarf: 12-15ft. Full-Size: 15-20ft.
Can you turn a tree into a dwarf tree?
There are only a few rootstocks that will dwarf a fruit tree to 6 feet high or less without a lot of pruning. One of them is the M27 for apples. This rootstock is also suitable for container growing. The M27 has a very weak root system – which is why it keeps apple trees so small. Semi-dwarfing rootstocks typically produce trees that are about 60% to 90% of standard size, with a height of about 14 feet to 22 feet, depending on the rootstock. Semi-dwarfing rootstocks were commonly planted at a spacing of 22 feet x 16 feet (132 trees per acre) during the 1960s through the 1980s.