Best Apple Varieties for Espalier Training
- Early ripening. Adore. Divine. Cox’s Orange Pippin.
- Mid season ripening. Ariane. Baujade. Freyberg.
- Mid-late season Ripening. Lady in Red. Braeburn. Splendour.
- Late season ripening. Belle de Boskoop. Mother. TIP BEARING VARIETIES (not recommended for espalier – except for informal fan shapes)
How long does it take to grow an espalier apple tree?
While it usually takes about four years to get the full artistic effect of your efforts, you may actually see fruit as soon as the second year but if you want the most from your espaliered tree, remove that developing fruit for a year or two.
How do you make an apple tree espalier?
In the first year, your espalier apple should have two side branches 40-75cm above soil level and an upright branch. Tie these side branches in at an angle of around 60 degrees from the horizontal. Wait until mid-August, then lower the two side branches to the horizontal.
How tall do espalier apple trees get?
A typical espalier is 6 to 8 feet tall, with three to four sets of horizontal branches. Your goal is to keep the tree in bounds. Fruit yields will be proportionately much greater from an espalier than from a full-size tree.
What apple trees are best for espalier? – Related Questions
How long do espalier apple trees live?
Because they are less susceptible to breaking branches, espaliered trees can have an incredible life span – some espaliered apple trees are still producing fruit after 150 years!
Do espalier trees need a wall?
Espaliers need to be trained to a wall or on wires fixed to posts. The posts need to be secured in the ground.
How much space do espalier apple trees need?
Planting and initial training
Trees should be planted 3.75m-6m (12-20ft) apart, according to their vigour.
How wide will an espalier apple tree grow?
Branches on espalier trees can be kept shorter to fit into small spaces or be allowed to grow to their full width of 4-10′ in both directions.
How far should espalier be from fence?
If training against a wall or solid fence, a trellis system should be built 10″-12″ away from the wall to allow air circulation around the tree. When planting trees for espalier, it is best to start with young, unbranched whips, or branched trees with branches starting at 15″-18″ above planting depth.
Can you espalier full size fruit trees?
Most apple and pear varieties which produce their fruit on spurs (rather than on the tips of their branches) can be trained as espaliers. Plums, cherries, apricots, peaches, and nectarines are not suitable for espalier-training, but do very well when trained as fans.
What espalier is best?
As a general rule, woody trees are the most suitable for espaliering. Traditionally fruit trees of the citrus, apple and pear varieties have been a popular choices as their stems are hardy and unwanted growth is easier to remove.
How do you start an espalier?
To espalier, prune to create a main vertical stem, then train the side branches to achieve the desired shape. Depending on the plant, this can take a year or two to establish and requires regular care. Thereafter, an espalier requires only light pruning to hold its shape.
How do you maintain espalier trees?
To keep my espaliers looking neat, tidy, and at the desired height and shape, I prune them back regularly about once a month during the growing season until six weeks before the first frost is expected. On trees that produce fruit, I wait until the fruit has set to do any pruning.
When should I start espalier?
It’s best to espalier when a fruit tree is in its first or second year. Older, more mature trees are difficult to train and shape. It can take up to three years to bend mature branches. Whether on young or older trees, espalier pruning can take 5-10 years to reach a finished design.
What do you tie espalier with?
Rubber Plant Ties 50-pack
Ideal for fixing a branch to bamboo or an espalier wire. Soft, flexible rubber so they dont bite into the branch. Easy to apply, easy to remove, UV stable so will last for years. They do have some stretch in them to allow for branch growth, but should be adjusted every year.
What is the difference between espalier and cordon?
The main difference between cordon and esaplier training is that cordon training involves training the tree in one upright direction on a single stem, whereas espalier training means training the tree branches outwards in a horizontal direction.
Why do people espalier trees?
Espaliering can help keep your fruit trees in check while still providing you with a bountiful harvest. Implementing an espalier tree still requires maintenance throughout your growing season, but no more than any other backyard fruit tree.
Can I espalier any tree?
Most apple and pear varieties which produce their fruit on spurs (rather than on the tips of their branches) can be trained as espaliers. Plums, cherries, apricots, peaches, and nectarines are not suitable for espalier-training, but do very well when trained as fans.
What is the difference between espalier and pleaching?
A pleached fruit tree is tall with a single clear trunk and a fruiting square crown. An espaliered fruit tree has numerous horizontal branches running from a single central trunk.
How close together can you plant espalier fruit trees?
The standard horizontal espalier can be spaced at around 4′-5′ apart with branches reaching out as far as halfway between trees. Trees can also be spaced out much further apart if you have more space.