Finally someone who can pronounce espalier

My mind was blown when I realized I could be in control of my fruit trees! Great video!

I'm so grateful for your videos and for the time you spend filming, presenting, and editing. I have learned so much from you, Gardener Scott.

So helpful! Many thanks Gardener Scott!

Great post! Your presentations are to say the least fabulous! You know your stuff!

Love an espalier tree! Thank you for sharing how to do it!

Very direct and to the point. Really like this video unlike others that ramble on and on and on this one was great.

This is so awesome. I'm doing this with my dwarf apple tree. Thanks for the great info.

Brilliant!! I've been planning to espalier my apple and peach trees since last year. Hopefully I'll complete it this year - (and add a fig tree to the list) after watching your easy ways to espalier. Im so psyched!! Thank you!

Great explanation! Very useful for beginners!

learned something new in the first 90 seconds. good video, thanks!

Thanks Gardener Scott for this informative video! I will definitively be giving this a shot to my new peach tree. Love your videos and wish you the very best!

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Have fun with it.

What a nice video. Thank you for the education, it was clear and easy to understand.

Very, very helpful! Thank you for your great work!!

This is my new word of the day. Am going to research this more and will most likely give it a try with a couple of young fig trees that are beside my storage building. Good idea for someone with just a 1/4 acre city property.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Fig trees can work very well as espalier. Enjoy it.

Thanks for the concise video with clear step-by -step and reasons for why you do xy and z.

@hoperules8874

4 жыл бұрын

👍🏽I see what you did there-x ->y->z axis! nice pun!

Thank you for this excellent guidance. I am just beginning to train my first apple tree, and I am happy that my first 'steps' were basically in the right direction. Very informative and clearly presented.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks.

Really enjoyed this new subject!

@GardenerScott

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Steve.

Good to see a noce tone. Looking forward for same process of mango trees

Great tutorial ... many thanks.

Excellent video!

Great video. It really is an art form. I found different types of fruit tree are harder to shape than others, such as the cherry, due to stiffness, compared to a plum or an apple tree.

@GardenerScott

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you. You hit on one of the most difficult aspects of espalier. Pear and apple trees are definitely the easiest to do. They're more pliable, their shoots tend to grow vertically, making the final shape easier to attain, and they fruit well after pruning. Plums are doable, but are limited by the shapes they'll grow into. Trees like peaches that fruit on new wood require a lot more pruning. Cherry trees are among the most difficult and may not fruit well after shaping. I prefer to keep it easy and focus primarily on apple trees. Maybe some day I'll challenge myself and do peaches or plums, but most cherry trees are difficult to grow in my region so I may never know success there.

I saw this video posted on the Beartaria App. Very interesting!

Very details. Thank you sir

Well I've just got to say a huge thank you! I've only just discovered that we can actually successfully grow peaches over here in the UK and have purchased one (Peregrine) to set up as an espalier in our cold greenhouse. I've been reading lots of articles and getting more stressed with each one but this demonstration has alleviated all of it! Thank you again - and wish me luck!

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

Good luck. My harsh weather only allows a harvest about every 3-4 year, but it's well worth the work for the delicious results.

Just what i needed to know! I have a small garden and just recently planted 2 peach trees and an apple tree; I have an apple tree that I planted 3 yrs ago near where I planted the new apple tree addition and I had wondered if I could grow these no higher then 6-7 feet tall and now I know that I can! Thank you!

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Glad I could help.

Thank you for a detailed video.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome.

Thanks Scott enjoy your video

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Jennifer.

Well explained! Thank you!

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

thank you for sharing

great info and pretty clear interesting explanation

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks.

Now that I have a spot to plant them, I plan on getting fruit trees next year with the intention of turning them into espalier trees, I first learned about espalier a few years ago and now I'm excited to start next spring with some bare root trees. I've always wanted fruit trees but never had the space for them, so happy I discovered the espalier method, now I'm just trying to learn more about it and how to care for my future trees. I plan on getting peach, pear and apple trees. My neighbor made a face when I said apple because the guy across the street has one and that tree is a mess, I told him I'd be highly pruning them and he obviously doesn't believe me lol. I just need to find out varieties I'll like, hate the idea of getting them, spending the time and money on care only to find out later that I don't like the flavor of the fruit. Apples are easy, pears not so much.

Thanks Scott - Sweet hat

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks. It definitely is.

Thank you

What a great technique, very informative vid. Thanks for sharing your great depth of knowledges. For that reason I subbed and 👍

@GardenerScott

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Welcome to the channel!

I have small new Bartlett pear trees that have lots of shoots going up vertically some to feed and length along the horizontally trained three branch structures.

I’m glad to see this video and I really want to learn this method I’m a beginner to gardening but English style is the direction I’m going with my yard and just purchased two apple trees that I will be attempting to do this with this winter I will be attaching them to my garden shed any more tips will be greatly appreciated

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

I'll be doing more espalier videos next year. The first should be done in March or April.

G00D Afternoon from Auckland, New Zealand it’s Sunday, February 9, 2020.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Good evening now.

Thank you so much for this well explained video, I really needed it because I don't have much space I wonder where can we see an update with these trees

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Good idea. I'll see if maybe I can return to that garden for an update.

@EddoPanamenyo

4 жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott oh I thought it was yours lmao

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

I was when I worked at that garden, but I retired from that position. I still check in on them from time to time.

@EddoPanamenyo

4 жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott oh that's so cool

A nice, clear video. If I ever get the opportunity I think I will go for free form espalier.

This is sooo amazing! It should work excellently for the little hedgerows I want to make every few rows in my garden. Other than apples and pears, are there any other fruits and berries that could be trained to fit a fencerow like this? Such as mulberries, cherries, pawpaws, berry bushes, nut trees? I am in zone 4 so that limits what I can use.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Many fruit trees and some bushes can be pruned like this. It depends on how the tree sets fruit. Apples and pears set fruit all along a branch, while nut trees often just flower at the tips. Many berry bushes send up multiple stems and not a central leader. If you're interested in a specific tree, you can find out how it grows and them determine if it can be an espalier.

Thank you. This was clear and easy to follow. I am wanting to do a free form espalier. Do you eventually clip the ends of the side branches you are saving to keep the tree small?

@GardenerScott

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, when it reaches the height and width you want, continue pruning the branches to maintain the size.

Hi Gardner Scott. Thanks foe the great video. In the video you mention that a 2 branch espalier is most common and talk about how to do that starting from a whip. However, your video also shows trees with 4-5 rows of branches. What is your advice for getting 4-5 rows of branches from a whip?

@GardenerScott

2 жыл бұрын

Hi, Jasper. To get good spacing of the branches I prune the top in winter after a couple rows have developed. That promotes new growth in summer. After a few years, 4-5 branches of evenly spaced branches can be grown. I have a video that shows some of that: kzread.info/dash/bejne/iI2kqaNrZ8vahdo.html

Thanks for the enlightening video. My experience has been that the tree has fewer branches, and fewer fruit. The problems come when a branch dies for various reasons and there are no buds or twigs to replace it reducing fruit and appearance also lesser fruit means fruit does overwhelm consumption by animals thereby leaving me nothing. Do you have any advice?

@GardenerScott

5 жыл бұрын

Hi, Michael. You point out some of the major issues with espalier. I live in an area with harsh winter weather and am always concerned in spring, wondering if any branches died or were damaged. I don't show it in the video, but for the first couple years I usually limit pruning and double up on the branches growing in the direction I want; I'll wait until after a winter or two before deciding which branch to remove. I also try to choose tree varieties that will do well in my area and are more likely to grow strong. Ultimately there is always a chance that branches will die and that will affect the shape and fruit production, but hopefully not so many that it is catastrophic. Because of the small size of the tree, I've had success draping bird netting over the tree to keep birds from eating the fruit.

Great video! Can anybody suggest what type of wire is best for a trellis as shown in the video? What material, what gauge, coated or not? I'm trying my first espalier project, and plan to build the trellis using wire attached to steel posts, as shown in this video. Thanks for any suggestions!

@GardenerScott

3 жыл бұрын

I use aluminum fence wire, usually 16 gauge. Thin branches can be trained with a thin wire. Thicker branches will do better with a heavier gauge.

Thanks for the information about espaliered apples. I have two pretty old apple trees that were originally intended to be espaliered, and I can see by the way the original growth looks that they were horizontally trained for a while way before I bought this house. When I moved in last October my friend and I trimmed all the upright growth and ran wires at two heights to start to train new growth and old growth along the horizontal wires. My question is: now that summer has been encouraging the vertical growth in both these trees, I have been trimming most of the verticals and leaving any promising horizontals but even only a few days after trimming there are a ton of new verticals coming on. Do you recommend hacking off all the verticals or leaving some along the nascent horizontals? I am afraid of cutting all the fruiting buds......

@GardenerScott

3 жыл бұрын

I would leave some of the verticals to develop into fruiting spurs. Summer pruning encourages a lot of new growth. For shaping you may find better results with winter pruning.

Do you have a video, or know of one, to bring back a apple tree that was originally grown as in espalier but had not been pruned and grew much bigger, including trunk of 2” diameter? Thanks

@GardenerScott

3 ай бұрын

I haven't seen a video like that. I don't have one either.

I have a thre year old apple tree can I safely still train the branches vertically? Great information. Thank you

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Sure. It may take more time for older branches, but they can still be trained.

Thanks! Nice video! We are thinking about adding a few espalier trees along our front fence line. How much fruit can you get out of an espaliered apple or pear compared to just a regular tree?

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

Espalier trees can produce a surprisingly big harvest. It won't be as much as if the tree were allowed to grow all of its branches.

Does it have to be on dwarf rootstock, or can you do this with semi-dwarf and just prune more? Thanks, great video!

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

I use semi-dwarf trees. The bigger rootstock does better in my area. With proper pruning you can use standard trees.

Fascinating! When the trees are established, will you remove all supports, i.e. trellises, wires and stakes? Thank you!!

@GardenerScott

3 ай бұрын

Yes. It can take years for the trunk and branches to get bigger not need support.

@Isaiah30v21

3 ай бұрын

@@GardenerScott Thank you! I’m in the process of setting up a very small garden in a POA that will have a brick patio, three galvanized container planters, potted blueberries, strawberries and blackberries. If the trellises for the espalier apple trees need to be permanent, they will have to be decorative, involving cementing 10 foot posts and incorporating cable wires with eye bolts, etc. But if espalier trees can eventually stand alone, without a trellis, I can plan accordingly. Thank you again!! I’m enjoying your very detailed instructions for gardening.

How does hight translate to espalier? If I have a tree that should grow to 10-12 feet and I espalier it, does it mean that the horizontal branches will reach 10-12 feet?

@GardenerScott

3 жыл бұрын

You can control the growth with pruning. You can keep a 10-12 ft tree at 6 feet if you want.

Hello Gardener Scott - regarding the trellis, will we need to ever adjust the height of those wires? I am trying to determine a spot to permanently establish those horizontal wires for the espalier.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

You won't need to adjust the wires. The branches will stay at the same height.

I'm trying to create a fan out of my plum tree. We planted the tree in spring but I'm guessing it's about 2-3 years old. What do I do with all the growth it has put on in the last couple of months? It's very pliable, so it was easy to create the shape but do I need to shorten them? My main branch has already reached the top of the wall so do I just cut off the part that's too long?

@GardenerScott

5 жыл бұрын

Leave the growth on for this growing season. For new trees, you want good root development and the extra branches will help with that. When the tree is dormant this winter you can begin pruning off extra branches. When you prune branches during the growing season, the tree will tend to get bushy near the cut. When you prune a dormant tree, it will focus energy on the buds that form branches. By making cuts with an eye on the buds you have more control over the shape of the tree. You can cut back pretty far and that main branch should probably be one of the first to go.

Love this channel! My question is: I just received my apple trees in the mail from the nursery. It has several broken branches. I plant on espalier traininging with them. One is g41 Winecrisp, other is b9 Keepsake. Do I go ahead & trim off all broken/danaged branches & cut top of main leader as needed for training? I'm afraid to kill them! Thank you!!

@GardenerScott

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Maria. For espalier it's best to prune pretty harshly in the beginning. Definitely prune off the damaged branches and make a heading pruning cut of the main leader. Those cuts should stimulate new growth. There is low likelihood of killing them even with heavy pruning.

@mariamarkisello8932

3 жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott thank you so much for the quick response+ for your advise! I will be planting tomorrow. 🙏 I would have prefered bare whips, but these came with many branches, some damaged during shipping-especially the Winecrisp (& rather larger than expected!) These brittle Geneva 41 roots & weak graft make me nervous! Keep up the awesome & inspirational work-- 😊👍

Will a Barbado Cherry tree/bush be a good candidate to espalier? I learn a lot fr your videos and save all my favorites in my FB page. Thank you for all the valuable infos!

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Probably not. In general, cherry trees are poor candidates for espalier. The Barbados cherry is a shrub that can be pruned to be a small tree, but you probably would get poor fruit production if you pruned it further into espalier.

Great video. I have a question about the posts for the horizontal support wires though. After a few years, are the branches strong enough to support themselves without the wire, or is it permanent?

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

Eventually the branches will be strong enough that they don't need support, but it can be years.

To encourage growth of the horizontal branches of a lemon tree should i cut off new vertical shoots

@GardenerScott

5 жыл бұрын

Thomas, lemon trees will not be as easy to espalier as an apple tree. They tend to grow slower and require more patience. Removing vertical growth can promote horizontal growth, but the key is to look for the primary growing point. That growth at the tip of a branch may be directed into a new direction, even horizontally. You want to make thinning cuts to remove any branches that are not growing in the direction you want, and those can be either horizontal or vertical. If the vertical growth is a shoot growing from the base below the grafting point, they should definitely be removed.

Thank you very much. Question: in Southern California, when do you start pruning the fruit tree?

@GardenerScott

2 жыл бұрын

If your temperatures cool enough for the tree to drop leaves and go dormant, that is a good time.

Do you make your cut on the whip where you want the top lateral branches or the bottom lateral? If you make the cut, does the tree co tinue to grow vertically in time?

@GardenerScott

3 жыл бұрын

It depends on your planned shape. The tree will not grow vertically after the cut, but some side branches will attempt to become a vertical leader. A recent pruning of mine was cut with two buds below the cut to become the top lateral and two buds below that to become the bottom lateral.

Hello! Thank you for the helpful video. When you cut the center trunk, do you make a flat cut or cut it at an angle?

@GardenerScott

2 жыл бұрын

It's a slight angle.

@elizabethmcilwain9418

2 жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott great! Thank you for the swift response. Also, thanks for describing what can go wrong in espalier and how to fix it. I’m eager to try this, and all of your instruction helps a great deal!

When you cut the leader in the beginning, won't it stop growing? How do you get the tree to be taller? Does a new leader form?

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

Cutting the leader stimulates side branch growth. One or more of those branches will grow to become a new leader. However, with espalier the goal is usually to keep the tree shorter.

Id like to Espalier a Warwickshire Drooper plum tree but was told it wasn’t suitable so wondered what your thoughts were please Scott? They have the most amazing taste!

@GardenerScott

2 жыл бұрын

Plum trees don't do well as traditional Espalier, but you may have some success training it into a fan shape.

@josteventon2246

2 жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott thanks so much I’ll give it a go.

At what height of the whip do I trim the top of the tree? I’d like the max height of my trees to be about 8 feet. Currently my trees are about 2 feet with only a couple of branches.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

It depends on the shape you want. When first planting, the top is often trimmed at about two feet. That works well for candelabra shapes. For a tall vertical trunk with many horizontal side branches, I'll let it grow to the final height and then trim the top.

Fantastic video, just purchased a started tree from costo to plan next to my chain link fence. From your video it looks like i can plant it pretty much right next to the fence correct? How long do you let it grow horizontally before you let the tips grow up?

@GardenerScott

Ай бұрын

Yes, espalier allows it to be next to a fence. The horizontal length can be whatever you want. I usually plan for two to three feet.

@macpharlan6738

Ай бұрын

@@GardenerScott fantastic thanks for the reply!!

When is the best time of year to prune Bartlett pear trees that have been espalier trained with three horizontal branches which now have many vertical branches shooting up along the hirizontals? Scared to cut off fruiting branches for this season. Those verticals are as long as 2 ft so clearly they will not hold fruit well. If too late to prune for horizontal shape can I train as candelabra?

@GardenerScott

3 жыл бұрын

Espalier trees are often better to prune in summer to control growth and not disrupt fruiting spurs. If you want to re-train it, winter pruning is better.

Gardener Scott, I have a quick question. What month or season should I make the first cut of the whip to force side branches to grow? Late winter? or here in Minnesota can I do it now in May?

@GardenerScott

2 жыл бұрын

Pruning when the tree is dormant will force branches. Late winter or early spring is best. If the tree has started to grow new leaves, pruning will encourage new leaf growth and not the structural side branches.

Can I ask once you have your main shape how do you prune the branches that grow off the main ones?

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

I prune off the extra branches in late winter to maintain shape.

thank you for this video. Can you clarify re when to cut the main stem. I am hoping to have 4x horizontal rows of growth Do I wait until the height of the young tree reaches my top height prior to cutting? Also I live in an area with strong winds - is espalier still possible in this environment?

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

Cutting during the dormant season will stimulate bud development for the side growth. At least one of those buds will attempt to become a new vertical leader. You can wait and cut at final height if you have the horizontal branches in place or cut the new verticals to generate the side branches. Strong winds may mean extra support but won't prevent it.

@user-yt3tc1zb8k

Жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott thank you!

I have planted apple trees along a 6ft tall chain link fence that have been started on there own wooden trellises. I am getting ready to set up more permanent guide wires. My question is should I set the wires to the height of the branches where they are at now or to the height that I would like them to eventually be? Each tree that I have is trained with 3 branches coming off each side of the tree horizontally. I would eventually like the top branches to be along the top of my 6ft fence.

@GardenerScott

3 жыл бұрын

Set the wire to where the branches are now. Branches do not grow higher as the tree grows. They will always be at their current height.

@neilcombe8804

3 жыл бұрын

Ok, great. That's good to know. One more question. What's the best distance to plant away from the chain link fence ?

Hi Scott , can you please let us know what did you put the white colour on the tree

@GardenerScott

5 жыл бұрын

The white on the trunk is just a tape wrapped around it. You can see it here at Amazon: amzn.to/2PIQYqK It is used to help keep the trunk from splitting due to temperature changes in late winter and early spring. On a cold day the bark is very cold and when the sun shines on the front side, that side will heat up and expand. The back of the trunk is still cold and will not expand, which can cause cracks in the bark. The white wrap helps reflect some of the heat and prevent cracking.

This was such an informative video. May I ask why the tape at the base of the tree? Is it to prevent further branches from growing at the base or is it being held in place?

@GardenerScott

2 жыл бұрын

The tape is to reduce freeze damage. In my area warm days and cold days can cause the bark to split.

@jochenmylove

2 жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott Thank you, I will be planting a fruit tree soon and its growth will be due much to your help!

Would this also work if you were doing deep root watering/training or would that put too much stress on the tree?

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

It should.

Great video. I am considering either a dwarf cherry or dwarf Bartlett pear. Would either work with this method?

@GardenerScott

3 жыл бұрын

Cherries can be difficult as an espalier because they fruit differently. Apples and pears are best.

Cheers for the great video! Can espalier trees bee transplanted?

@GardenerScott

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Espalier trees can be transplanted just like any other small tree. Try to move as much of the root ball as possible when doing it.

Have an update video on how the trees are doing now four years on?

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

I don't. I retired from the garden project.

I have a fig whip that is straight up with no branching and fruit developing all the way up as well, but how do I start the espalier - do I cut off where want first horizontal and then what happens does it continue too grow up till I want another. There is plenty videos on pruning and what shapes but have no idea how to actually start when it is so straight.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

You have the basic idea. When you make a cut, it forces the tree to grow branches from the buds below the cut. Those branches will want to grow up so you need to tie them to a trellis in the shape you want. The hardest part is making that first cut, but that is what is needed to get horizontal growth.

@irenesmith6845

4 жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott this may sound silly, but when cut made and new branch grown and in place horizontally but where does the growth come for next level of height for next cut. For the life of me I cannot picture the next step - feel as though getting senile. Thank you very much for your quick response,

What I really need to know is how to recognize what vertical spirts I should cut off and which ones may become fruit, I have been looking everywhere but I cannot find a video that explains how to actually trim and prune up close and how to identify a future fruit or branch you don’t want

@GardenerScott

3 жыл бұрын

I have another espalier video where I point out the buds and identifying growth patterns. As my espalier grows I will be doing future videos on fruiting spurs. Here it is: kzread.info/dash/bejne/iI2kqaNrZ8vahdo.html

@jimfly96

3 жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott Cool I will take a look.. the problem I am having is if I were to cut all the vertical shoots I would not have any leafs in the horizontal branch. It would just be a bare stick

Do in need to use more than one variety for cross pollination?

@GardenerScott

5 жыл бұрын

Yes, for apples. Some fruit trees are self-pollinating, but apples require another variety to successfully pollinate.

Really helpful! Thanks... I wonder if I could ask you a question?

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Go ahead!

@mrinalinivaidya4540

4 жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott IMG_5570.JPG IMG_5569.JPG These are nearly 2-year-old trees. Is it too late to espalier?

@mrinalinivaidya4540

4 жыл бұрын

How can I send you photos?

Does the root system growth of an espalier tree differ from that of a non-espalier tree? I’m considering growing a fruit tree against our garage wall but I’m concerned about the effects on the foundation.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

It often is. Fewer branches and leaves can reduce the amount of roots. More important is the type of rootstock. Dwarf rootstock has fewer roots than standard rooststock.

Very informative video! Thank you for explaining everything with such clarity. My only question now us, will the tree get enough sun if I plant 4' tall lilies to the front? Thank you.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

It might not while it's small, but may when taller.

This looks similar to what they do with grape vines, did one start lets say grape vines and they decided to try fruit trees or did they come about at the same time?

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

They are similar. Grape vines have been pruned for centuries earlier than fruit trees.

I bought a 2 year old apple tree who's lowest branches start at about 3' tall. Can I still Espalier this tree?

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

You can. You can shape the branches you have and pruning may stimulate new branches to grow.

Can i do this with manggo tree? Because as i know, manggo tree tend to grow very large and high

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

I am not sure, but I don't think it works well for a mango tree.

Are there exotics that can be done that way? I have several whips of avacado and papaya.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

There are. Avocados naturally have horizontal branches and can be done in a loose espalier. I'm not sure about papaya.

Hi Gardener Scott. I just discovered you and hope you still get these comments. We bought a fig tree whip and would like to espalier it into a step-over form. I assume that it's basically done the same way as the the first row of a candelabra shape?

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, it's still basically the same. Look for the buds or branches you want to keep and prune the others off. Figs can put out quick growth and in many ways are easier to form. Enjoy it.

@laraharding849

4 жыл бұрын

I'd love to see a video of a step-over if you have done one before.

Hi, what variety of pear is suited to espalier style of growing? I have seen Conference available locally here in Ireland, would this work?

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Conference should do fine. Fan shapes work well for pears.

@LizMcNamara47

4 жыл бұрын

Gardener Scott yes we have wired a fan shape on the wall ready for it

Do you need a trellis for an informal espalier? Or only for a formal one?

@GardenerScott

3 жыл бұрын

It depends on the exact shape you want, but you may not need a trellis for informal espalier.

I want to start my orchard this year.. what types of trees do I get?? Can it be a regular tree?

@GardenerScott

3 жыл бұрын

Apples and pears do best for espalier. For a basic home orchard you can consider plums, peaches, and cherries too.

My espalier apple tree has not produced apples for 3 years. It's currently over grown and I am hesitant to trim it back now or wait until late winter as you had mentioned in your video. Your thoughts?

@GardenerScott

5 жыл бұрын

Hi, Jan. I would wait until winter. Plan to prune off the over grown branches and leave the small branches (spurs) growing from the branches; fruit sets on those spurs. Is it a young tree? Some apple trees won't bear fruit for five or more years after planting. Do you have another apple tree for pollination? Apple flowers require another variety of apple to set fruit.

@janwatt3537

5 жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott Thanks so much for the information----it was here when we moved in 5 years ago. It is so overgrown!

This spring I planted an apple and a peach whip. The apple had a little growth to it already but I was able to secure it to the wires. The peach is the one I wonder about though. I read somewhere that peaches won’t grow on 2nd year branches, is that accurate? How would I prune a peach espalier. I am very new to gardening and any tips would help. P.S. my husband and I found the filling your raised bed video very helpful. We have a couple small raised beds and always spend a small fortune on filling it.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Peaches are not the best choice for espalier because they fruit on one-year branches. So the 2nd year branches will grow leaves and support photosynthesis, but they won't fruit. A larger espalier shape like a candelabra can give you space to allow the fruiting branches to grow. Typically peach trees don't live for a long time so you might get some good years with selective pruning before you replace it with another apple or pear tree.

@akmartinez419

4 жыл бұрын

Gardener Scott thank you for the reply. I figured that we may have made a bad choice but of course, it was after we had already planted it. Is there any other way to prune to help it stay smaller? It’s about 2 feet from a fence line so I have to keep that in mind.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

You can do a modified espalier pruning. Normally peach trees are pruned in a bowl shape by cutting out the central leader. You can do the same thing and just cut the branches on the fence side. Allow it to grow a little taller and wider than you might otherwise, if you can.

@AgathaVelvet

4 жыл бұрын

@Gardener Scott, I just planted a bare-root cherry along a fence. What shape would you suggest to keep it productive yet space saving? Thanks for your great videos.

I would like to add a photo I just took of my little lime tree but do not know how to do this. It is a bout one year old; 3-4 ft tall and situated along my dog's run path. it is roughly 4 ft in front of the base of some bamboo and has an eastern exposure. it has a couple of fruits which is normal for this climate - sub tropical andes. the branches circle the tree. If I espalier how far apart should I plant the support stakes and is it tall enough right now? I understand I will be trimming off some really healthy front and back branches. I think that if I dont want to move the plant I should maybe go for the straight out to the side effect so as not to impede too much the look of the bamboo. so while I like the candelabra effect it may be too full. The only other place to transplant might be against a south facing brick wall.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

Hi, Karen. The support trellis only needs to be large enough to support the branches as they grow to the size you want. 3-4 ft is usually a good height to begin espalier. Consider how wide you want the mature tree to be. If each side will extend 3-4 ft, then the support stake will need to be at least 8 ft apart. While a candelabra shape is great there are many other options. Consider training two or three branches straight out to the side, with each level being about two feet apart; the first branches can be 2 ft off the ground, the second set of branches at 4 ft, and a third set at 6 ft, or you can stop at two and have the final espalier only 4 ft tall. The spacing is completely up to you. If you transplant it against the wall, you'll have more choices of shape.

@karenhobbs3218

4 жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott thank you. I think I will do the wall, about a foot out right? It will certainly break up the monotony.

Can you show me how to prune in late winter?

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

I am planning that video later this year.

@petradesert-or-dessert576

3 жыл бұрын

Maybe a follow up for winter pruning? That would be awesome!

How you prune them

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

I cut off the branches on the front and back and only keep the branches to maintain the shape.

I don’t really have a place to trellis this type of tree, does it need a trellis? Also, can you graft onto it to make it a full tree? These may seem like odd questions, but I saw one of these at a local store. Love the variety of apples, but don’t really want a flat looking tree.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

To get the shape, a trellis is necessary. If you want a full tree, I suggest not pruning it into an espalier shape and just let it grow normally.

@rahelmoore5495

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Do you know if you can plant these trees without a trellis though? I was thinking of buying one as it is a good price, but I don’t have a spot in my yard to trellis it.

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

@@rahelmoore5495 You don't have to trellis this way at all. I have a couple of other videos that show how to plant a fruit tree without trellising.

Hey Scott........how far away from a wooden fence do I have to plant an apple espalier tree? Is 6" too close??

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

I use at least 12 inches. You have to anticipate the future growth of the tree and the trunk will get very thick in 20 years.

@ZukiGrL1

4 жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott Thank you. The only issue I have if it is that far from the fence, is that I was going to use wire and eyebolts and I don't think they come in that length. What else could I use in this case?

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

I use t-posts like in this video or tall wooden posts.

@ZukiGrL1

4 жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott I actually thought of another way, to take advantage of the posts I already have as part of the wooden fence. I was able to find 8" long eyebolts and in order to achieve the 12" gap, as you suggested, I will screw in blocks first (in order to gain some distance) at the locations of these bolts and with the long sized bolts, I should achieve the 12" gap between the tree and fence!! Thank you for your advice, since what I've seen in so many KZread videos, they provide very little space not thinking of the maturity of the tree in 20 years as you mentioned.

I'm planning to espalier a few citrus trees in my garden. Thanks for the great video! One question I have is about the trunk of the tree. If I cut it, as you suggest, does the tree overall still grow taller, or just the branches?

@GardenerScott

2 жыл бұрын

It depends on how you prune the rest of the branches. The tree won't grow any taller at the point you cut it but other branches will attempt to become a new leader.

Can it be possible for any type of fruit tree? Please comment 🙏

@GardenerScott

3 жыл бұрын

Most fruit trees can be done, but it's best for trees that fruit on previous year's growth.

Can this work for avocado trees?

@GardenerScott

4 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure, I don't grow avocados. I suggest you check with a local nursery.