I'm not sure what you mean by a "standard configuration", but they are very commonly used in bonsai. And bonsai, in fact, is usually done by cutting back larger trees rather than growing them up from new ones. Go to www.bonsai4.me.com for basics, but then read everything you can about bonsai as there's a lot to know beyond that. Every tree is different, every soil mix, light level, climate, styling and watering technique.

You're probably never going to end up with a Cotoneaster standard unless you start with a cutting or very small plant.

The plant in the Rosaceae family that is graft compatible and most widely used for producing Cotoneaster standards is Crataegus (hawthorn). You can fashion a 'standard' of sorts by staking a leader to a vertical support and carefully pruning branches in a sequence to prevent ugly swellings and reverse taper in the trunk, but it would be very difficult. I wouldn't even bother trying to produce a Cotoneaster standard on it's own roots. I would t-bud or approach graft .... even thread graft a Cotoneaster branch to hawthorn understock.

Al

Thank you larke and tapla.

Thank you for the link larke; I'm sure it will be helpful or just disuade me from spending too much effort on something that may be futile.

Tapla, the 3 plants are cotoneaster salicifolius (willowleaf). I do have a hawthorne sapling and it might be worth a shot at grafting the willowleaf. At the worst it would cost me the hawthorne, if successful I will post some follow-ups. If it doesn't work, chances are you will never hear from me. I do appreciate the responses, though, thanks again.

Jon