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Can all fruit trees be espaliered?
You can try your hand at espaliering any variety of fruit tree, as long as the fruit tree suits your climate, but dwarf or semi-dwarf trees are best for small spaces. Since apple trees are a common choice for espalier, note that spur-bearing apple trees are even better if you want more fruit from your living fence.
How do you pick espalier trees?
To develop your own espalier, choose a young tree without much branching, as this will require much less effort to manipulate. The main pruning is done annually in late winter/early spring when the plant is dormant (or after it flowers, if it is a spring bloomer) to remove branches that don’t fit the plan.
Can you espalier any tree?
In theory, any tree or large shrub can be made into an espalier, but it is essential to select a species that will ultimately fit your space and conditions. Often when you see an espalier tree it is a fruit tree, namely apple and pear trees.
How far apart do you plant espalier fruit trees?
They grow to around 10 feet tall without other training. These trees would normally be planted between 4 and 8 feet apart. However, as an espalier they can grow as close as 2 feet apart within a row, if kept to 5 feet tall. The general guideline for row spacing is to place rows twice as far apart as tree spacing.
What is the difference between espalier and cordon?
Cordons can also be grown at an angle, like these ‘Rajka’ apples. Espaliered apples can be trained against a sunny wall or grown freestanding, supported by a system of wires, like this variety, ‘Rosemary Russet’.
How do you start espalier fruit trees?
10 Easy Steps to Espalier Your Fruit Tree Decide upon your location — you’ll need a spot with full sun and about 8 linear feet of space. Build your structure. Purchase and plant your tree. Choose 2 branches to attach to the first level of wire. Prune out the other branches.
Can I espalier an avocado tree?
Typically, avocado trees grow very large and cumbersome – 5 to 8 feet at maturity. Espalier tree branches are often supported by wires on a wall to help train branches into fancy patterns, but avocado branches naturally grow in a nice horizontal pattern.
How tall do espalier fruit trees grow?
A typical espalier is 6 to 8 feet tall, with three to four sets of horizontal branches. Your goal is to keep the tree in bounds. Fruit yields will be proportionately much greater from an espalier than from a full-size tree.
Do espalier trees need support?
Espalier trees have to have support so the branches will not fail under the weight of the fruits. Since the branches are horizontal from the main trunk, any fruit on a branch will exert quite a bit of strain on the joint, the more fruits on a branch, the more strain on the joint.
Can you espalier citrus trees?
But you might want to try any citrus as an espalier. For example, to espalier a Lisbon lemon, just tie the trunk onto the back of the trellis, so that it’s sturdy, and always use a flexible tie. Remember that there’s always a back and front to a plant.
What happens if you plant fruit trees too close together?
Problems. If the fruit trees do grow tall, however, close planting can cause problems. The trees create too much shade, preventing light from penetrating to the lower branches. This can encourage the growth of fungii and reduce the production of fruit, potentially damaging or ruining the fruit harvest.
What wire do you use for espalier?
Espaliers can be achieved using high tensile fencing wire and a strainer and are quite durable. But for the added aesthetic (it is an artform after all) most horticulturists will use stainless steel rope wire and fixings.
How wide do espalier trees grow?
It is 80 inches wide and stands 8½ feet tall, which is typical for this design. The space between each branch is 16 inches. This spacing may look too wide when the plant is young, but it fills in quickly as the tree matures.
Can pomegranate trees be espaliered?
Espalier. The pomegranate fruits develop at the tips of the branches, making it easy to grow the tree as an espalier against a sunny, south-facing wall. A simple six-arm cordon or fan-shaped trellis allows you to train the pomegranate by tying its branches onto the espalier form.
Can you espalier cherry trees?
Most apple and pear varieties which produce their fruit on spurs (rather than on the tips of their branches) can be trained as espaliers. Plums, cherries, apricots, peaches, and nectarines are not suitable for espalier-training, but do very well when trained as fans.
What is a cordon tree?
Cordon fruit trees are simply trees grown as a single stem, with all the fruit swelling on short laterals immediately off this central stem. Cordons are normally grown at a 45-degree angle for the simple reason that this increases the length of the stem, and hence fruits, at picking height.
