How to Grow Espalier Apple Trees

Produce more fruit in less space with this centuries-old technique. Ron Wade guides us step-by-step through the first three years in the life of an espaliered apple tree.

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I will never forget my first skirmish with espalieredfruit tree . In the 1950s , it was . I was interview for the mail of assistant head nurseryman to a outstanding British blue-blooded family . During my guide tour of the exquisitely manicure gardens , we turned a box , leaving aboxwoodparterre , when forward of us was an boulevard of espaliered yield trees , ending at a grotto surmounted by a huge piece of gardenstatuary . I was but a few years out of horticultural college , so my chemical reaction to this enchanted lane of hedgelike trees was a combination of captivation and daunting thoughts of how to deal with the trees .

My template , seemingly incognizant of the horticultural thaumaturgy we were passing , continued chatting , about what I do n’t remember . I felt the trees were staring back at me menacingly , daring me to ruin years of grooming and loving care . I got the job , afterward becoming head gardener , and I believe that over the years , the espalier and I come to respect , if not have sex , each other . Little did I realize that first day that nearly 30 year afterwards I would come to America to serve as superintendent of the gardens atStratford Hall , the Virginia place of origin of Robert E. Lee , where , lo and behold , I was placed in charge of a garden bisect by avenues of wanted espaliered fruit tree .

Espaliers , of course , have a retentive account before me . The ancient Romans raise them first , but the form was brought to perfection several hundred age ago by the French , who are creditworthy for naming the system espalier , a deriving of the Gallic word épaule , mean shoulder .

But why should we bother with espaliers today when we have all the dwarf fruit trees we require ? fundamentally , and mighty down to the nitty gritty , it ’s the challenge . This fine art form ease up gardener justification for cohere out their chests and saying , “ I did that , and I ’m glad you like it . ” There are a phone number of back - up reasons , too . Espaliers are a twelvemonth - round garden feature , and they ’re easy to maintain and harvest than received or dwarf yield trees . Even the most rambunctious of child will thrill at being asked to harvest yield from trees no tall than they .

pick out a spur - bearing varietyThe good tree diagram for the method I ’m describing is a dwarf , unbent - leader tree get laid as a “ party whip . ” A lash is a untried tree comprising a single upright growth with no branches or side shoots . party whip are normally sold as two- or three - year - old at a tiptop of 3 ft . to 4 ft . The rootstalk of these trees should be of M9 or similar overshadow stock . M11 and M26 rootstocks are also suitable .

you’re able to train pear or sweetheart on a two - telegram trellis — though not cherries , which favor fan training — but I ’m going to limit my discussion to Malus pumila . I suggest you opt your favorite modern change , with one significant caveat : The varieties must be spur support , meaning their yield forms close to the chief offshoot , not at the tip of erect growth . ‘ Red Rome ’ , ‘ Stayman ’ , ‘ Red Delicious ’ , and ‘ Golden Delicious ’ are all goad bearers and would be my choices . Some companies extend varieties they say are self - pollinating , but for honest cropping , all apple need a second Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to effectuate pollination , so plant at least two .

I recommend purchasing a balled and burlapped tree diagram . I do n’t wish container - grown yield Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree because they may be pot resile , which admonish the tree from forming roots in its new surround . Bare - root trees are all right , but with them , a slight drying out can be fatal .

establish a single - prow tree

you may plant apple Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in either the evenfall or the spring — here in Virginia , mid - March is ideal — so long as you do not institute them when the ground is frozen or waterlogged . You will no doubt require to demonstrate a row of espaliers , but for the interest of simplicity , I ’ll describe how to go on with one tree . First you ’ll need to pick out an open site . you’re able to run a 10 - ft . trellis east to west , northerly to south , or any which direction , but avoid specter and ill run out grunge .

grind a hole midway between the trellis Charles William Post ; you want the tree diagram to extend 5 ft . in either counseling . The trap need to be about 4 in . to 6 in . deeper than the origin testicle . I suggest you direct a stick across the yap to find out the surrounding ground point . Be indisputable stain take away from the hole is returned “ as is . ” amalgamate in additive such as peat moss , compost , manure , or fertilizer will discourage the tree roots from expanding to search for solid food and anchorage ground .

Replace a trivial broken up soil in the hole , then lower the tree into it , and check the deepness against the joint . The grafting uniting , a swollen area just above the top of the solution , should be 2 in . to 3 in . above ground level , as bespeak by the stick ; if it ’s not , sum up or remove land to compensate the profundity .

Ideally , you want to set a pair of pit bud at around the same height as each of the wire . Turn the whip until these buds aim toward the office , so the lateral growth that springs from them will travel course along the wires . Now untie the gunny and push it tightly down into the hole without removing it . step by step refill the hole and firm the soil . Water the tree diagram copiously to see to it the soil comes in striking with the rootage , and then tally mulch . Year one : launch a lateral frameworkNow come the fun part , training . I use a sharp pair of anvil pruners for a dependable , uninfected snub . With incus pruners , the blade slices equally while the flavorless incus cushions the works stem . To facilitate water campaign - off and keep disease , always cut at a 45 ° angle , away from the bud . Make your first cut at the top of the whip , just above the two buds positioned beside the top wire . Then take a gentle fictile plant tie or a twist - tie beam and insure the party whip loosely to the two wire . Now it ’s a waiting game .

To create a two - tiered espalier with four horizontal branches , or laterals , you need only the two buds at the bottom wire and the two at the top telegram . All other growth should be removed . Use your thumbnail or a tongue to rub off or issue away all growth as soon as it emerges from the bud between and below the four you mean to keep .

When the growth from the four buds you have saved is 4 in . to 6 in . long , which will be in four to six weeks , cautiously bend the laterals down to the telegram and secure them broadly speaking with ties at the center of the arches you have create .

When the four laterals extend another 4 in . to 6 in . , about four weeks later , bring them down and tie them to the wire . As the time of year pass on , keep to tie down the sidelong branch as they grow .

Occasionally fall guy will spud below the graft conjugation or even below soil level . This growth is from the rootstock , and if allowed to develop will belike move around your tree diagram into a frame of savage cultivated crab apple . apply your anvil pruner to get rid of all such growth .

class two : prune vertical growthAt some distributor point , most potential during the tree ’s second season , the lateral will reach the posts . When they do , cut off the growing tips and continue to do so to prevent the lateral pass from getting any longer .

As the laterals are grow horizontally , vertical growth will sprout up along their length . When the verticals are about 8 in . improbable , you necessitate to prune them back to the first two pair of leaves . After the first pruning , more emergence will radiate from the remaining bud . Roughly every six workweek , you ’ll need to prune the raw growth , again back to two span of leaves . This amount of growth is sufficient to support the tree in its innate processes of photosynthesis and the spiritual rebirth of foods into tissue .

Typically , your first pruning will take position in late April , the second in early June , and the third in mid to former July . Growth will slow down noticeably by mid - summer , so the next pruning might not be needed until September . The last pruning , really a tidying up , may number in recent November . The timing of your five or so prunings will vary agree to your climate and locality , of course , but this yield you a general theme .

As you continue pruning back to two distich of leaves , fruit bud bunch , sometimes called spurs , will organise close to the branch . Fruit buds are plump , furry , and made up of cylindric rings , all of which distinguishes them from the thinner , smooth lateral bud . Whereas a sidelong bud bring forth ramification growth , a yield bud will , as its name connote , blossom in spring and then bear fruit . You require apple , of course , so do not cut out growth write of cylindric rings . Now you see why you may not apply apple mixed bag that bear yield at the tip of lateral growing . In pruning , you would have cut off all the potential yield .

Espalier Apple Tree

Photo/Illustration: Roger Foley

class three : thin errant branchesDuring the third yr and eternally thereafter , you should prune the lateral growth back to a single pair of leaves , rather than back to two brace . As always , leave behind the yield bud alone . In year two , your tree might have produce a few apples . Now in year three , your tree should grow a full crop . Do not be tempted to remove any of the apple ; rather , leave fruit cutting to the tree itself . At about mid - summer , the tree may discard some of its fruit to keep going more fully a less amount , a phenomenon known as the June fall .

By the finis of the third class , the crucial complex body part of your tree will be instal . Now comes the wintertime of its discontent . You should study the clusters of growth for any branches that are cross , and cut out the scandalise branch . Thinning will prevent the offset from damaging each other and will appropriate more spark and atmosphere to penetrate the tree . From here on , you need only carry out this thinning of growth clusters every two or three days , depending on the zip of the variety .

Espaliers of the deep and famousRobert E. Lee ’s Virginia family unit was by no means the only democracy - loving convert to the aristocratic art of espalier , in the first place used in chilly Europe to maturate fruit Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree on the sunny side of a garden wall . George Washington had cordon espalier fences of the character found at Stratford Hall dividing the bed in his Mt. Vernon kitchen garden , and level espaliers against the brick garden wall .

captain of manufacture also link the horticultural show . The original duPont immigrant , an avid botanist , develop a Gallic - mode kitchen garden aggregate vegetables and blossom , its section divided by cordon orchard apple tree fencing , its bed punctuated with free - digest espaliers , and its edges display a variety of elaborate flat traffic pattern , including the beautiful Belgian fencing . In duPont ’s mother country , gardeners had been surpass each other since the time of Louis XIV developing ever - more - splendid espalier , perhaps reaching their coronate accomplishment — or low head , depending on your position — with an espalier developed by M. Lepère honoring the Emperor Napoléon .

by Ron WadeFebruary 1998from military issue # 13

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