Rootstock - what to do.

[AndyDOHD]

Hi All,
New here. I have a number of rootstock for plum which I have had in pots for a year. I haven't done anything with them but would like to graft shortly, and wondered whether I should have trimmed the rootstock before this date or whethere I should trim it now?

[boundtothesoil]

I wouldn't prune or trim them at all until just before you are going to graft them (i.e. late feb or early March 2014). Then, depending on what kind of graft you are going to perform, cut back the main stem to the height at which you are going to make the union between stock and scion, matching the diameter of the rootstock with that of the scion/cutting you are going to use as closely as possible. You can try planting the discarded trimmings from the rootstock (several inches deep) at this time as they sometimes root, giving you more rootstocks to play with the next year.

[AndyDOHD]

Thanks for your reply. I will be attending a Bud Veneer Grafting Workshop on Saturday.