About Espalier Pruning Fruit Trees

Espalier is a technique to train any type of plants to grow against the wall, fence, trellis or wires. The word "espalier" is a French word, pronounced as "es-pal-yer." It is derived from the Italian word "spalliera" which means to rest against a shoulder (spalla). Seen in orchards as well as smaller courtyards or backyards of homes, espaliers add beauty to a garden while conserving space.

History

Espalier was the technique used to grow grapes in ancient Greece and Rome. A painted wall of an Egyptian tomb also shows a fig tree growing in one plane which maybe the oldest evidence by far. France grew trees next to the walls back in the 16th century medieval times to provide extra warmth for the plants. The United Kingdom grew fruits in colder climates using the espalier method starting around the 17th century. Espalier became more popular during the 18th century when most formal gardens in Europe, such as those seen in Versailles and Fontainebleau, used this method of planting trees. When the colonists came to America, they brought the espalier method with them. To this date, orchards and vineyards grow grapes and fruit trees using this method.

Function

To support espaliers, use brick walls, fences, trellises and other anchoring devices. You can grow any plant or tree using espalier method. Magnolia, dogwood, apple, oranges, bougainvillea and poinsettia are a few of the choices. For best results, start with a young tree or shrub that has balanced limbs growing from the trunks. Choose the ones with several limbs growing on each side. You can buy young pruned plant to grow as espaliers. This would be ideal for beginners for the pattern is already established. All one needs to do is plant it, add anchor to support growth and prune regularly. Use sharp pruning shears to prune the small branches. For thicker branches, use hacksaw or handsaw.

Types

There are two types, formal and informal methods, of pruning or growing espaliers. The formal method includes cordon, U-shapes, palmette and fence patterns. Cordon method is a type of espalier to train the growth as a single stem. There are several cordon patterns: single vertical cordon, single horizontal cordon, single oblique, double horizontal, tiered or horizontal T and braided horizontal T. U-shapes is sort of similar to the double cordon method but the branches grow vertically to make a U-shape. There are three types of U-shapes: single-U, double-U and triple-U (candelabra). The palmette method has two types: palmette verrier and the oblique palmette. The fence method is a complex method of growing espaliers consisting of: Belgian, losange and acure method.

Benefits

Espaliers can add beauty to any garden, no matter what size. It is beneficial for orchard owners to grow trees and shrubs using this method. Espaliers can save space and allow one to plant more trees. Pruning espaliers will allow the plant to bear healthier fruits in abundance. In colder places or during wintertime, espaliers benefit from the heat of the wall to extend their growing season. Espaliers can also double as a privacy fence, the leaves and branches provide the necessary privacy while still giving enough room for peeking.

Warning

There are some associated risks when incorrectly pruning espaliers. Prune espaliers only a few times per year. Pruning annually would prevent plants from fast and excessive growth. Cutting too deep is risky hampering new growth. Another risk is when using infected pruning shears that can spread the disease to other trees. Always properly clean and disinfect pruning shears and cutters to prevent transfer of diseases.