Buying drawf fruit trees today is easy due to the ready availablity of container-grown plants. There are many species, and diffent varieties of these species, on the market.

First point to consider: -Will the plant I've selected go the distance?  Will it last?  Or will I have to replace it in a year or three?  Pecan trees, for example, often offerred for sale in large containers, only last short term. They generally don't have a long lifespan.   Root growth is fast, and constricting these will simply cause the tree to wither and die.

Naturally, we can re-plant into an even larger pot as soon as the roots have filled the container.  Sure we can. But this is not really the object of the exercise.  The fruit trees we choose are intended to spend years producing leaves, flowers, and fruit on our patio or balcony.  We want long term.   It'd be a shame if they had to be removed after the first harvest because they'd become just too large.

This is why only very slow-growing trees and bushes should be seleced.

When buying dwarf fruit trees it's a good idea to seek advice from Garden centre staff or nursery people in your area.  They'll know what's growable.   And take a good look at the labels on the plants.  Certified stock is clearly specified as such.   In addition to the variety, (for example, the apple "Delicous') the stock will also be indicated.

You intend to buy your plants by mail-order or Internet purchase?  Make sure you use   reputable growers; specialists -  otherwise dissapointments could result.   Note though, that many specialist nurseries advertise in gardening magazines and websites that are sold nationwide.    The young plants you receive will look much like the beautiful flowering specimens depicted in the catologue and, on the whole, these plants will be quite usable.

They will recover quickly after being unpacked and repotted.   Morevoer, after a period of adapting, to local conditions, they'll probably look terrific.  Specialist growers who operate a well-established mail order service will, in all probability, be experienced in packing and despatching plants so that they arrive in your hands in good condition.   So mail order is fine.

The advantages of ordering stock this way can far outweigh the convenience of purchasing, perhaps from the inferior selection provided in your local garden centre. For example, trees bearing cross mixes of two fruits, such as Pepinos (pear-melons) and new cultivars like Sweet Cherries that remain small, are often only available by mail order.

In buying dwarf fruit trees at a specialist nursery you're guaranteed that the fruit tree is grafted onto rootstock of the desired variety.   It may be a slow-growing cultivar, or even a vigorous growing seedling.

Specialists at nurseries will have grafted shoots or buds of particuar varieties onto this stock. The grafting point can be seen quite clearly where the stem looks thickened. Naturally, the stock will have a very significant influence on the growth of the tree.

Grafting onto a seedling, which serves as the stock , will create a more vigorously growing tree than grafting onto selected dwarfing root-stock. This means that only very slow-growing cultivars, which are clearly marked, should provide the answer your seeking for growing those plants in your pots or containers.   You want slow-growers.

Many varieis are available these days and most fruit trees can be found in their minature form. If Dwarf varieties are unavailable, choose the slow growers. Example:  in Apples, the slow-growers are called Ballerinas.  They're very suitable.

Pomegranate, Peach trees, and soft bushes, naturally remain quite small.  Also fruit trees, such as Figs, Citrus and Olive are ideally suited for large containers.

I hope you enjoyed the article Buying Dwarf Fruit Trees. If you are searching for updated small space and Patio garden designs you can follow me at: http://www.twitter.com/homesandgarden

Happy Gardening,

Marty