Fruit Trees – Bare Root Specifications

We grow a variety of bare root fruit trees in various sizes to suit the smaller and larger garden. All of the trees are grown for a full growing season before despatch to encourage deep rooting for stability and fast establishment after planting. Our bare root fruit trees are measured in height from ground level to the top of the tree, not measured by girth.

The below information will help you and guide you in the right direction to choose the best ornamental bare root trees for your garden space. Click here for Ornamental Trees – Bare Root Specifications.

These specifications are for guidance only, as nature offers variation between varieties and within each tree form.

Our nursery is situated on very fertile soils that encourage vigorous and fibrous root systems. In all cases we respect these roots highly during lifting, handling and onward shipment.

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Bush

Topped at 75cm as maiden trees and grown on in the second year with a minimum of 3 branches and an evenly balanced shape on a clean stem of 0.5m.

Minimum height 1.m.

Trained Cordon

Two year trees with a trained central leader. Spur pruned 3-4 times over 2 growing seasons to produce well developed fruit bearing spurs at 0.40m and above with a dominant central leader.

Minimum height 1m.

Half Standard

Topped at 1.35-1.45m as a maiden tree and grown on in the second year. This produces an evenly balanced shape on a clean stem of 0.80m and a minimum of 3 branches.

Minimum height 1.5m.

Maiden

One year fruit trees from 1m – 2.5m depending on the type, variety and rootstock and feathered (branched) or un-feathered (whip) according to variety.

Minimum height 1m.

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Straight Lead

A feathered two year tree ‘run on’ from a maiden in the second year. This produces a straight stem and branched (according to the variety) above 0.90m. Ideal for growing into a standard tree.

Minimum height 1.5m. (Note: a few low vigour heritage varieties may be shorter)

Spindle/Knip bushes

Well branched ‘commercial grade’ trees for orchard planting. This includes apple and cherry trees on dwarf rootstocks M9 and Gisela 5/6. These trees are grown on the nursery in such a way so they produce wide angled branches at the optimum height for establishing cropping laterals in the first year of planting, including a strong central leader for training into the ‘A’ or ‘spindle’ shaped tree.