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Fruit & Orchards

How to Book - Fruit Trees, Espalier

12 years ago

We're going to move next year, all being well, which means I get to plant an entirely new type of garden. I've done large perennial beds and flowering trees in a very large garden, xeriscaped a tiny city garden, and now I want to grow fruit and veg. I've got the gardening basics, but haven't a clue when it comes to managing fruit trees. I'd like an Empire and a Snow/Fameuse apple tree, and at least one more. And veg, maybe a few herbs, and planted like my grandfather and father did: fruit, flowers, veg all together in a traditional type cottage garden.

Nice dream. What I want is a book or two on co-planting perhaps Great Garden Companions by Sally Jean Cunningham, and a straightforward book on growing fruit trees, the more basic and technical the better. I'm looking to do a little reasearch so I know what kind of garden plot to look for when we're looking for a new house and what size it would have to be. No sense buying something that won't let me do what I want, but I don't want to buy something too big for me to manage, either. I'm retired, so I have the time available to nuture a new garden, but I'm past the stage where I want a lot of backbreaking work.

All advice will be very welcome. I've lots to learn.

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Comments (5)

SoTX
12 years ago
It's my experience that the more room the better--and easier--it is. You, too, can be self-employed (not retired). Much depends on how manicured you want it to be,also. I prefer to eliminate the unnecessary. Best of luck.
maryneedssleep
12 years ago
Best book I've seen on fruit tree training, with photos and great explanations, is AHS Pruning and Training. If this newbie can do it, anyone can. Good luck!
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That article is really cool. But I might try the fan shape with a fig I already have. fruitnut, if I tried the fan on a 6 foot long, 4 ft high chain link fence do you think the roots will stay manageable? The reason I am asking is that the fence is connected to the edge of my house. I wouldn't want it to damage my foundation. I would think that if I keep the fig pruned to the size of the fence, that the root system would stay modest as well. Is that correct thinking?
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I have found that the book published by the American Horticulture Society called *Pruning and Training* has the best pictures and directions for espalier. The key to maintenance pruning is in answering the question,"how are fruit formed--on current season growth, last year's growth, or two year old growth?" Any plant that has bark and grows in your zone can be shaped into an espalier. As the twig is bent, so grows the espalier.
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Comments (23)
I am so excited I found this topic. So before I even read the rest of the terrific replies to the original post I'm leaving my story here. I bought my home two years ago which included a beautiful old apple tree in the back yard. Well, the property got divided (a very long and sad story) and I lost the apple tree to the neighbor who made a very big deal of harvesting the apples this year. She only harvested them when I was home and available to see her doing it. Argggghhhh.... so I then ran across articles on espaliering apple trees. I have seen people who use them along walkways and as dividers, etc. I am thrilled and plan on using this technique to divide my backyard from my pond area with a 4-5 foot high espaliered apples. I also plan to use them as a divider between my front yard and hers a span of about 20 feet or so. It should look gorgeous. I have to rub her nose in it somehow, LOL. Now... I have seen several different techniques. Some people use wire and some use a wood trellis effect. Is one more effective than the other? I'm thinking I probably want two trees to span the area of about 15 feet in the backyard. Would that be enough or should I use 3 trees? Do I plant the trees now, in fall, or wait until Spring? So many questions and so many answers to find. Next, of course is the type of apple I want. Now, I'm off to read the rest of this thread... thanks way in advance....Jim
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Comments (2)
I am new to this technique as well having just planted an apple and a pluot that are being trained on a fence. There are pictures posted on my blog. I'm sure I will be turning to the forum for information as the trees grow. Here is a link that might be useful: my blog
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AJBB
12 years ago
Check with your state's Department of Agriculture / Extension Agency. Many of them have a web presence.

Most states have a number of brochures and thorough articles discussing what will grow well in your area, how to plant, and how to cultivate fruit trees. Those will be better than any sort of generic advice given in a book that's designed to appeal to a nationwide audience.

You should also consider buying a gardening book by a local author that specifically discusses your area. The advice and tips are usually dead on and less generic. For example, again, "Extreme Gardening in Arizona" or Brookbank's "Desert Gardening" is more useful to me, in Phoenix, than Sunset's "Guide to Western Gardening" which is very California-centric or Otto's "The Backyard Orchardist: A Complete Guide to Growing Fruit Trees"
heathereh
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the advice. I know what my winter reading is going to be!
daemon2525
12 years ago
I bought a suprizingly nice book at my local LOWES home improvement store. It is simply called "Grow Fruit"
by Alan Buckingham.

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