As I may have mentioned in past posts, I grow lots of different fruit trees.

The rewards of growing my own food goes beyond the bounty. It’s also about connecting with the soil, watching a seed sprout, and nurturing what will soon nurture me. And of course, there are the bragging rights of serving friends and family food grown fresh from the garden. If you are constrained by small space, try growing your fruit as an espalier.

Training fruit trees and vines to grow in two dimensions saves space and increases productivity. 

Espalier, pronounced ess-PAL-yay, is a French term meaning to train fruit trees to grow flat against a wall. The practice of espalier started because it was discovered that walls offered protection from late-season frosts. Today, we use this technique as a space saver, training plants along whatever open surface we find—any wall with an open expanse is fair game. It could be a retaining wall, the side of a brick or stone building, or even a flat, unsightly privacy fence!

There several common espalier templets; I focused on a classic shape, but there are forms, such as fans, grids, or weaves, candelabra, and tiered or French cross styles.

Prune once a year in late winter while the plant is dormant. The wires  used to train your tree against the wall are your plan or scheme to which to follow, and the branches that are following those lines should be pruned back to the trunk. Also, cut back branches that are growing toward you. Avoid pruning in late summer or early fall, since the new growth will be damaged by winter cold.

An espalier not only saves space but it also is easier to care for than a conventional tree and will produce more fruit.

Espalier an Apple Tree

MATERIALS

• Apple tree whip

• 12-to 14- gauge wire

• 1/4 to 3/16’ eye bolts

• Drill and bit to fit the eye bolt

• Marker

• Ruler

• Wire clappers

• Compost

• Shovel

• Nylon pantyhose strips

1. FIND A SPOT Choose a flat wall location that receives at least six hours of sun per day.

2. MEASURE TREE LINES The tree trunk is the vertical line. The branding is three horizontal tiers, at 16, 32, and 48” in height. For each tier, measure and mark to 3’ + 5” on either side of the center trunk.

3. BUILD A WIRE SUPPORT Attach eyebolts at equal increments along the trunk line and also at the right- and left-hand sides of each vertical line. Thread wire through the eyebolts.

4. PLANT THE TREE Dig a hole 12-14”deep and wide in front of the vertical wire, about 4” out from the wall. Mix native soil with compost to enrich the soil and promote good drainage.

5. SECURE Using nylon hose strips, secure the tree trunk to the wire in a position below the bottom tier and at 1-2” above the top-tier wire.

6. NOTCH On the trunk sides, at the 2” mark above each of the three horizontal wires, make a small nick in the truck to spur branching.