Grafted pear tree

I know many (all?) fruit trees are grafted onto strong root stock, but is there a standard type used for the stock? I ask because of this here pear tree, it's piqued my curiosity. Conference pear on top, and no idea what growing from the bottom!

 

Well, apart from the grass it looks like you could possibly have a sucker coming from the rootstock, but its not easy to say from the pic.
I have a feeling plums are usually grafted onto another Prunus species, but cant actually remember which one.
So sucker will have a different look to the top growth.

BTW, you really do need to get rid of that grass, its robbing the tree of nutrients.

 

the reason you have more suckers than normal as the tree is not growing up right which slows the sap down , and has encouraged the suckers to get more food , re pot into another pot which is bigger and fill in any gaps in the new pot with fresh compost and at the same time cut out the suckers or pull them off if you can

Spruce

 

Sorry.
Just noticed this is a pear tree.

I miss read the OP, and was thinking Plum.

 

Oh come on Woo.
I wouldn't hold it against you if you did.
Much

 

Cheeky Bast***, your older than me.

 

Just guessing

 

The bottom shoots are definitely coming from the root stock. It'll be planted out very soon, I'm just clearing an old stump (remains of a silver birch, victim of gales last year, no disease present) where it's going to go then I can prepare the hole for this one.

I'm feeding it periodically to allow for the grass, it'll be planted in my lawn anyway so if I remove that now it'll only get replaced in short order!

 

only you plant it out you need to keep a circle free of grass , as if you let the grass grow from your lawn this will compete for food and water also it helps when cutting the lawn as you may damage the trunk in the process.

 

I'm very careful with the mowing - I already have three other fruit trees out in the lawn and it needs cutting twice a week so I get a lot of practice!

 

well for the trees benefit then , keep it clear of grass around the trunk