How to Plant Fruit Trees Close & Prune For an Espalier

When you grow fruit trees on an espalier, you save space and create beauty and interest in your garden.

When you create an espalier, you grow plants close together and keep them pruned to a flat plane. An espalier can be against a fence or wall or it can be free-standing. The technique originated during Roman times and spread throughout Europe, and later other countries. Fruit trees you grow on an espalier will take up less space than traditionally planted trees and also look attractive. Fruit trees that do well on an espalier include citrus, peach, plum, nectarine, loquat, apple and crabapple.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Shovel
• Wheelbarrow
• Compost
• Clippers
• Loppers (if needed)
• Tree saw (optional)
• Sturdy ties

Instructions

1. Build your supporting structure first so you know where to plant your trees. Then measure where you need to dig planting holes --- mark them 6 to 8 inches away from the espalier structure and about 2 feet apart for most types of fruit trees.

2. Dig planting holes that are 1 foot wider than your young trees' root systems. Transfer the soil to a wheelbarrow and then blend in about 1 part organic compost for every 4 parts of soil. Backfill the holes to a level that will allow each tree to sit with its rootball level with the soil surface.

3. Set each tree into a planting hole and then fill the hole with the soil and compost you prepared. Add water several times during the filling process to help to eliminate air pockets in the soil.

4. Cut young sapling fruit trees to about one half their height, or about 3 feet tall. Prune your trees taller, if necessary, to leave three branches (or nodes, which are areas where branches will emerge) below your cut. Prune side branches that grow away from your espalier structure or that are pointing through it, if any exist.

5. Allow branches to grow into long shoots during the first year. When they are long enough to work with, train one horizontal shoot on each side of the tree (two altogether) and one vertical shoot by tying them to your espalier structure.

6. Cut the main vertical leading branch at the spot where you want a second set of lateral branches to form and then allow the buds that form to grow into shoots.

7. Train two or more vertical shoots and one main vertical branch with sturdy ties as they grow longer. Continue pruning and training forming branches until each tree reaches the top of the espalier structure and is the height you want. As your trees grow larger, keep them pruned each year to maintain their shape on the espalier structure.

Tips & Warnings

• Always prune tree branches back to their branch collar, a raised area where they grow from the main trunk.

• Always prune fruit trees during their winter dormant season.

• Watch your espaliered fruit trees for signs of insect attack and plant diseases because close planting causes reduced air circulation that leads to these problems.

References

• California Rare Fruit Growers: Persimmon

Resources

• Sunset Magazine: How To Make a Wire Espalier