Anyone here done ESPALIER?

**digger** · 13th July 2011, 10:24 PM

For those who don't know.....

Espalier (pronounced /ɨˈspælɪər/ or /ɨˈspæli.eɪ/) is the horticultural and ancient agricultural practice of controlling woody plant growth by pruning and tying branches so that they grow in relatively flat planes, frequently in formal patterns, against a structure such as a wall, fence, or trellis, and also plants which have been shaped in this way.[1]

Espalier, trained into flat two dimensional forms are ideal not only for decorative purposes, but also for gardens in which space is limited. In a temperate climate they may be; planted next to a wall that can reflect more sunlight and retain heat overnight or planted so that they absorb maximum sunlight by training them parallel to the equator (though in areas where temperatures go below freezing this can cause sun-scald damaging the tree). These two facts allow the season to be extended so that fruit mature over a longer period.

We (myself and my wife, the minister for war and finance!

) are thinking about giving it a go with apple trees (x 4) set up so that can cross pollenate etc.. and then later with other fruit trees.

Has anyone already done this?
tips?
hints?
photos?

cheers
Digger

**Chucaro** · 13th July 2011, 10:30 PM

It is a very efficient way to use the land and saving in the cost of netting to stop the birds.
It is more than 45 years since I finished my agricultural studies and trying to explain it in my spanglish will be not much help, however THIS link mayge help you. Have fun!!

d@rk51d3 · 13th July 2011, 10:39 PM

Hey Digger,

What about some topiary gunbuggies?

MMMmmmmmmmmmmm.

**digger** · 13th July 2011, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by d@rk51d3

Hey Digger,

What about some topiary gunbuggies?

MMMmmmmmmmmmmm.

blasphemer!!!

theyre perfectly formed as they are!!!

and if land-rover can copyright ROVER Im making enqs about MMMMMMM
it seems to get a lot of use around here!

BESIDES IF THEY WERE MADE TOO SKINNY YOU'D HAVE TO WRITE

ɯɯɯɯ ʎƃƃnqunƃ ɯɯɯɯ

AND THATS NO FUN!!

**wrinklearthur** · 13th July 2011, 10:56 PM

Hi All

I have 200 grafted apple trees to go in shortly, and I want to try my hand at Espalie also, I have a very windy place here, so having my trees set out as Espalie should help with that.

Thanks Chucaro ( Arthur ) for that link, I will try and find some photo's of apple trees i have taken and next time I go past, there are pear trees along side a farm lane at Campania, I will grab a photo of those as well.

Cheers Arthur

**numpty** · 14th July 2011, 08:14 AM

This can also be done with citrus in cold climates so they can be grown against a north facing wall.

Also check out the Gardening Australia website as old Peter Cundall was a whiz with anything edible.

**Chucaro** · 14th July 2011, 09:21 AM

Do a search in how in Europe people place the braches inside bottles to make apple and pear like the Pear-in-a-Bottle Eau-de-Vie

Sorry I cannot help myself

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jL0i9yOAfw]‪Make Pear Schnapps‬&rlm; - YouTube[/ame]

**digger** · 14th July 2011, 07:40 PM

I WONDERED HOW THEY DID THAT

Bit like the square japanese watermelons

**bob10** · 15th July 2011, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by wrinklearthur

Hi All

I have 200 grafted apple trees to go in shortly,

Cheers Arthur

Yummmmm! Scrumpy!Brings back memories of the Plymouth area in Shoe-K when we visited........a lot of it is a bit hazy.... Bob

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Anyone here done ESPALIER?

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