Espalier Trees

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Along with pear trees, apple trees are the traditional espalier subject because their spurs live for years producing fruit. Espalier apple trees bear fruit at a young age and are versatile in nature, with their supple, easily trained new growth. However, you'll need to practice delayed gratification because most of these trees take approximately three years to mature and reach the desired design. For some growers, this is too large a drawback. But if you don't mind the wait, your patience and creativity will pay off in the long run, with mounds of McIntosh and pounds of Pippin displayed on beautiful, bountiful tree forms.

THE TRADE-OFF:Most espaliered trees need approximately three years to attain the desired design and reach maturity. If you can stand the wait, you'll be rewarded with beautifully structured trees and bushels worth of fresh apples.

Choosing an Apple Variety

You'll want to consider which particular kinds of apples will be suitable for your climate. "Among the 5,000 apple trees grown worldwide, wherever you live, some variety will suit your climate," assures Hooper. "Plus there are no apple trees that are not amenable to espalier." In choosing the kind of apple tree to espalier, be aware of the extremes of your hot and cold climate. The chill factor is the period of cold needed by apples and other deciduous fruits to break their winter rest. This is an adaptive feature to prevent plants from breaking dormancy on warm winter days.

Apples have chilling requirements of 200 to 1,700 hours at a temperature of 32°F to 45°F. If you live in a southern state, however, there are apple varieties available with low winter-chill requirements. There are also varieties with summer heat resistance (See "Popular Varieties" on page 50).

Your choice may also depend on the kind of symmetrical design you'd like your tree to have. While there are many variations, the six basic forms of espalier are "multitier cordon," with its rows of branches growing horizontally; "candelabra," with its vertical rows of branches growing off a single horizontal; "palmette verrier" with its U-shaped branching pattern; "fan;" with a radiating branching pattern; "informal," that are more naturally shaped; and "Belgian fence," several Vshaped espaliers woven together.

The traditional "formal" shapes generally require more attention than the "informal" ones, which grow in shapes that naturally follow the tree's growing pattern. Basically, the different styles offer design flexibility. Of the formal styles, for instance, the multitiered horizontal cordon takes the longest to train, but, once established, lends itself well as a garden-bed divider. A single cordon, grown vertically, horizontally, or even at an angle, is the simplest espalier style and also works well as a divider.

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