Mature espalier apple tree fence
Espalier is the art of training trees, very often fruit trees, to grow on a flat plane. This technique not only creates an interesting plant structure – a ‘living sculpture’, but also is useful as a space saver for small space gardens. Trees trained in the espalier technique are trained against a flat wall, building, or against a free-standing structure.
I’ve long been fascinated by lovely photographs of espaliered trees in beautiful garden settings, which prompted me to do some reading and sit in on a seminar where I took copious notes. It is from this research that I gather my information to share with you.
I’ve chosen an espalier project in an effort to create a ‘living fence’ for along a wood plank sidewalk which leads up to the entrance of my bed and breakfast/guest house. The walkway was wide open to the driveway, yard, and the harsh winter winds, so it was in want of being a bit cozier.
Plank sidewalk with post structure
I’ll need to build a structure to support my trees rather than utilizing a wall for support, but for blogging purposes, the technique of espalier is the same no matter the structure you select. I chose apple trees as my plant material for the benefits of spring flowers, summer foliage and fall fruit that will dangle from the structure like ornaments, beckoning my guests to help themselves! During the winter months I’ll utilize the structure for stringing white mini lights.
Apple trees lend themselves well to many espalier forms. The pattern I’ve chosen is a horizontal tiered cordon method, therefore the structure I’ve built is specific to the horizontal pattern as seen in figure a.
When planting the trees, orient the branching along the cables where they will be secured during the pruning process.
Lower cordon of the espalier apple trees
The art of espalier is based upon the complex relationship between auxin and cytokinins, two growth hormones in plants. Auxins have a cardinal role in coordination of many growth processes and are essential for plant body development. Cytokinins promote cell division in plant roots and shoots. Pruning changes the relationship between auxin and cytokinin. When a leader branch is growing straight up, auxin levels are at a higher rate and growth is more vertical. The more you angle a branch, the greater you are changing the relationship of auxin to cytokinin, and there becomes less vertical growth, but more horizontal branching and more fruiting. This is the reason for pinching back perennials and annuals, and is witnessed when you bend a rose bush on a hoop as a result there are more prolific blooms.
My young trees were supple and with good lateral branching, therefore I capitalized on that attribute and merely secured the lower branches to my first tier wire cable, using soft vinyl stretch tie. I pruned subsequent buds and branching from the trunk moving up to the next set of branches at the second tier of cable structure, securing the supple branches in a similar manner. Had the branches been woodier, I would have slowly moved the branching down to position, creating a temporary structure to ease the branches down in to place at the cable wire.
Espalier tree with two horizontal cordon tiers
As you’re training your apple tree, keep the small shoots along the cordon trimmed back to 4” to 5” long. Your tree will continue to grow and mature, and every flower will become a fruiting bud. Eventually your fruit tree will become its own support structure. In general, espaliered trees’ fruit will be larger and sweeter, because their fruit is exposed to more sunlight and the trees have been pruned regularly to keep their shape.
Three espalier apple trees after one month growth
The three espalier apple trees have been growing for about one month. They are all healthy and filling in nicely with leaves and new growth. I have pruned off any new budding branches that have sprouted from the main stem, in order to keep all of the growth directed on the two lower lateral cordons that I’ve secured to the horizontal cables.
I had selected two buds to become the third cordons which will become next year’s growth along the third cable on the structure. These young branches are growing out nicely. Depending upon the rate of growth, I may secure these branches to the third cable later this summer. You can see the upper new branching in the photo below.
Selecting new growth for the next cordon
An espalier tree is never ‘finished’. They require pruning at least three times each season in order to maintain the beautiful structured shape; I recommend June 1, July 1 and August 1. This particular walk way enclosure will require two more years of growth to reach the uppermost, fourth horizontal cable. Then after wards, it will just be ‘maintenance’ pruning.
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