Espalier fruit trees offer an eye-catching and space-saving way to grow fruit. These trees are ideal for small gardens or urban spaces where there isn’t room for a full-sized tree.
Espalier fruit trees are an attractive way to grow fruit against walls or fences. They’re easy to train and can add a special touch to any garden setting.
Fruit grown on a facade tend to be sweeter and more delicious than those in regular gardens, as they receive more sunlight exposure. Plus, they require less work and are usually ready for harvest later in the season.
Advantages of Espalier Fruit Trees
They are easy to train
Espalier fruit trees are easy to train, making them a great option for small spaces or those needing extra care. Not only do they bring fruit close to eye level, but they also maximize sunlight and make efficient use of vertical space.
An ideal espalier tree should be no more than two years old, with flexible limbs that can be trained into different shapes. Popular fruit varieties like apples and pears make excellent examples but other stone fruits such as peaches or plums also work well.
Espalier trees should be grafted onto slow-growing rootstocks to constrain their growth and allow the branches to be pruned and trained into an attractive shape. Younger, semi-dwarf varieties work best as their limbs are still flexible enough for pruning quickly.
Once you’ve selected the tree to train, you need to decide on a pattern. Popular options include horizontal, fan palmetto, candelabra and spiral cordon.
They are easy to maintain
Fruit trees such as apple and pear can be trained to become espaliers, though plums, cherries, apricots and peaches may also be trained this way.
To achieve successful espalier, select an ideal tree. Ideally, opt for one with healthy roots and evenly spaced side shoots.
Next, you must create a support structure that can accommodate your tree while still allowing it to bend and form as desired.
This could be as straightforward as installing a trellis, but more intricate styles of trees require adequate wiring running horizontally across walls or fences for support.
Once your tree has been trained into its desired shape, regular pruning is necessary to keep it looking tidy and productive. Pruning should be done in spring and summer to remove any dead or diseased branches and promote new growth.
They are resistant to disease
Espalier fruit trees are an ideal option if you live in a cold climate and wish to grow apples, pears, peaches, plums or cherries. These hardy varieties tend to be less susceptible to diseases than their heirloom counterparts found at nurseries.
Fruit trees are an ideal option for those with limited space to plant fruit trees and don’t mind learning how to train the trees into specific shapes. Not only are they easy to care for, but their beauty and productivity will add a beautiful touch to any landscape.
In the Middle Ages, espalier was widely used as a way to grow fruit against stone walls in castle courtyards without interfering with their open space surroundings. Nowadays it remains useful for various garden tasks – from dividing vegetables beds to creating living fences or screening out unsightly areas.
Espalier-treating fruit trees is ideal when the tree has long, flexible branches that can be trained into desired shapes. Common examples of suitable trees include apple and pear trees, pomegranates, figs, cherries, plums and nectarines.
They are attractive
Espalier fruit trees are an excellent way to bring some natural beauty to your garden, as well as providing numerous advantages for both you and the fruits that grow on them.
They provide an attractive alternative to ivy in landscape designs, as they can be utilized in many different scenarios and styles of landscaping designs. Not only that, but they can be trained into attractive screens which filter sunlight and add privacy when necessary.
Successful espalier training begins with selecting the appropriate plant and applying the correct training method.
While most plants, including vines and climbing shrubs can be trained into this form of hedging, fruit-bearing trees with long, flexible branches and stems produce the best results.
Apple, pear and plum are some of the most common fruits used for this style of planting. Other popular options include fig, pomegranate, apricot, cherries and citrus.
What Is the Difference Between Espalier and Cordon Fruit Trees?
Fruit trees often take on different shapes and patterns as part of a more formal garden design, providing space-saving advantages in small gardens while adding an artistic touch.
Espalier: Horizontal and Fan Shapes
Fruit tree varieties that lend themselves well to espalier training include apples, pears and stone fruits such as plums and figs.
When grown this way, apples and pears typically take on horizontal or fan shapes; many other stone fruits may also be trained this way.
Y Fan
A simple Y fan is the most straightforward shape to train your espalier tree in, making it a great beginner’s pattern. It’s relatively straightforward to achieve and you can start early in the winter or spring before your tree leaves its dormant season.
Palmette Verrier
One of the more challenging yet achievable patterns for an espalier is a palmette verrier, in which you pinch a leading shoot over several years to produce side shoots.
Each year, train these new side shoots one level up from where they started from, creating an attractive U-shaped pattern with ample fruit at both ends.
Cordons
Apple and pear trees are the most common cordon-style fruit trees, though other varieties such as fig, plum and apricot can also be trained into cordons.
To train them against walls or on a fence, create an intricate framework using strong wires to tie in their branches. Plant the trees 15cm from the wall at 60-90 cm apart, then tie them securely with long bamboo canes.
