Understocking Grafted Trees in Spring: Understand the Rootstock, Scion and the Need to Understock

Spring is one of the most exciting times in the garden — buds are bursting, new growth is appearing, and ornamental trees are waking up. However, for grafted trees, not all new growth is equally beneficial: shoots from the rootstock below the graft can grow quickly and compete with the scion for nutrients, shape, and energy.

Thinking about adding grafted ornamentals to your garden this season? Explore our range of trees here →

What Is Understocking?

Most ornamental trees — such as ornamental cherries and ornamental pears — are grafted. This means the tree is made up of two parts:

 

Rootstock: The base and roots of the tree. It’s a strong, fast-growing plant that provides stability and nutrient uptake, but its own growth is often less attractive in colour or form.

 

Sometimes, the rootstock will send up new shoots from below the graft. These shoots are strong and fast-growing but not decorative — and they can quickly steal nutrients and energy from the grafted scion.

Why Understocking Grafted Trees Matters

1. Protects the Scion’s Growth
   • Removing unwanted rootstock shoots ensures that all the tree’s nutrients go into the grafted scion — the part that produces the colour, shape, and flowers you love.
2. Keeps the Tree’s Shape Clean and Balanced
   • Rootstock shoots can distort the tree’s form and cause uneven or messy growth. Understocking keeps the tree’s structure neat and true to type.
3. Promotes Long-Term Health
   • If rootstock shoots are left to grow, they can eventually take over and dominate the tree. Regular understocking stops this before it starts, ensuring your ornamental stays healthy and attractive for years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Understock at Home

Find the graft union: Look for the small join or swelling on the trunk where the scion meets the rootstock.

Identify rootstock shoots: Any new growth coming from below this join should be removed.

Use clean, sharp tools: Secateurs or a pruning saw will make a clean cut that heals quickly.

Cut close to the base: Remove the entire shoot to prevent regrowth.

Check regularly through spring: Rootstock shoots can reappear as the weather warms.

Not sure if your tree needs understocking? Get in touch with our team — our team can help you identify what to remove and when.

A Simple Step That Makes a Big Difference

Understocking grafted trees might seem like a small detail, but it’s one of the most important steps you can take for long-term success.
Whether you’re tending trees in your backyard or growing them in a nursery, removing those fast-growing rootstock shoots ensures your tree’s energy is focused where it should be — in the scion’s beautiful flowers, colour, and form.

Final Tip

When buying grafted trees, look for ones that have already been understocked and show no growth below the graft. It’s a sign of proper nursery care — and understocking is an important step in keeping them healthy, balanced, and true to their intended shape. For gardeners looking to enjoy beautiful blooms, our grafted flowering trees are carefully grown and regularly understocked at the nursery to give you strong, well-formed plants ready for your garden.

Explore our range of grafted flowering trees → View Flowering Trees