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Make the espalier: Using 8- to 10-foot-tall posts (such as 4-by-4s or 4-by-6s), bury them 2 to 3 feet deep in the soil, spaced no more than 10 feet apart. For a maintenance-free espalier, use aircraft cable to support the tree's branches. Space the cable or wire 12 inches apart horizontally starting 12 inches above the ground, with a wire vise at each end to hold the cable tight.
I check my research, and this is what is recommended for first starting the whips. Once the tree gets some size the boards and wires can be removed.
Aren't they so elegant looking?
I'm seriously considering doing a hedgerow type form with apple trees. I'm checking around for local nurseries that might have already started espalier trees. At my age, 3 years to fruit is a long time...LOL
I once thought I would espalier a pear tree against a standard cedar fence. In just a year or so, it had broken the cross bar on the fence! Industrial strength materials are required. This cross bar was just a 2 x 4.
Thanks for the input, pajaitomt. Yeah, I think that's why they recommend such heavy cable. One of the neighbors still has espaliered apple trees and I've been helping the new guy with those. They bear heavily and he's had to go back in and add additional supports for that. I'm so glad they didn't tear them out. These are at least 20 years old and the old gentleman who previously owned the property mentored and helped me tremendously when we were first starting. He taught me how to graft on fruit trees. I have a pear I'd like to try, but it's been a long, long time since I've done any of this. I need to do some study and refresh my knowledge. I plan to do an article on that too. I'm not real knowledgable about perennials, but I do know veggies, fruit and nut trees from hands on experience. LOL
I think espaliers are wonderful and wouldn't mind having some one day. I had a neighbor who created espaliers with heavy posts and wire and they worked very well. He got several apple trees into a small space. I took the lazy way and realized why the heavy duty wood and wire. I have seen espaliers on plaster walls near here, but I wonder what is underneath that plaster -- wood or cinder block. So far they haven't broken loose, but I keep watching!
I would love to know how to graft.
Well everything I've read is to make sure your tree is away from the building and use a strong support system until you get it trained. I found several sites of nurseries that sell ready to "eat" esplaied trees. Just beautiful. And search sites for French done espalier will just blow your mind. Of course, they've been doing for a couple hundred years, so it oughta be right. LOL
Cathy, I didn't realize you are Doccat5. I enjoy reading your posts in the Mid-Atlantic forum--how lucky for me. Great article. I've always wanted to try an espalier. Due to the topography of our property, the foundation on the rear of our house is higher out of the ground than we had thought it would be. We have about 20' length x 6' height of brick foundation, with a southern orientation. Would that wall be too hot in our zone in summer to espalier? I think it would look great to have three trees across that length. It would help mitigate the monolithic look of that particular view. I would need to find trees that already have a start since I'm older than I thought I would be at this age.
It's an amazing amount of data and information available about this method. The French sites are to die for, but they've been doing it a couple hundred years, so it's like "yeah, I should hope you'd get it right"...LOL
