Using Dave Wilson techniques to keep trees small

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Thank you!!! Would you recommend I keep this and graft on top or remove and replace? The growth seems vigorous for the first time since I’ve had this tree so I’m wondering if the roots are now finally spreading. This entire tree was in a pot for a long time and then when I transplanted it, the plant was really really root bound. I cut a lot of the circling and bunch roots away and then the plant sprouted well, set fruit, had the fruit eaten by critters, and then subsequently died. I wonder if it was SDS. I don’t have any of the tree still with me so I can’t check for the black streaks mentioned on other posts.

Anyway - would love any advice or ideas.

My original plan was to replace the tree with an Imoto Fuyu tree.

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I’ve noticed that D. lotus doesn’t like being in pots for extended periods. The roots go straight down to the bottom and circle the pot multiple times. Your tree probably didn’t fully recover from the root pruning and expended too much energy fruiting.

If the rootstock suckers are thick enough, you could try grafting next spring. Most of the budwood I have gotten from sources like Fruitwood has been at least pencil thickness, mostly thicker, so if the shoots haven’t reached that caliper, you may need to wait another year to graft.

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Thanks - I think that’s exactly what happened. I will
Just replace it with a new tree I think. Thanks again for the advice!

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