More than 40 varieties of apples, seven varieties of pears and
many other fruiting trees, both free-standing and espaliered,
have been pressed into service to provide hedges, screens,
barriers and geometric shapes. Dwarf fruit trees are productive,
yielding full-size fruit, and are easier -- and less risky -- to
harvest, prune and spray than larger trees. In addition, dwarf
fruit trees come in many sizes, enabling gardeners to use them
in tight locations. Some dwarf fruit trees are easily grown on
wire.The mature height and width of a fruit tree depend on four
major variables: - The rootstock used: This is the main factor.
Apple trees on their own roots naturally grow as much as 40 feet
tall and 40 feet wide. Cultivars may mature to as little as 4
feet tall if grafted to an M27 super-dwarfing apple rootstock,
or as much as 22 feet tall if you use EMLA 26 or another of the
most vigorous dwarfing rootstocks. - The cultivar's native
vigor. For example, on its own roots, 'Gravenstein' apple trees
will grow nearly