Have you always wanted to learn how to espalier fruit trees? Put simply, to espalier a fruit tree is to prune and train it in such a way as to grow flat against a wall or trellis. But this simple sounding technique can bear beautiful results, both in ornamental terms, and in terms of a delicious harvest in a limited space. Espaliering your fruit tree might seem daunting, but who dares wins and with a little time and effort, and this guide, your garden orchard could well be turning your friends green with envy.

What Trees or Shrubs Make The Best Espaliers?

First, it is important to understand what kind of tree or shrub is best for this technique. While an espaliered ornamental cherry tree might seem idyllic, the practical reality is that if this is your first time using this technique, the harder wood of the cherry makes the process far more difficult. We advise using a softwood variety, such as an apple tree or a pear tree, which are far more pliable and much easier to train and prune. 

Additionally, apples and pears have very long lived spurs or “main branches”, lasting for many years. These are the parts of the tree that will be trained and pruned and will bear the fruit. Unlike an ordinary tree, an espaliered tree will require more maintenance as when the spurs die your work will be undone and you will have to start the process over – choosing a tree with long lived spurs is a good way to counteract this.

Once you have decided on a species, the next thing to decide on is a variety and rootstock. We recommend a dwarfing or semi-dwarfing variety as this will lead to the tree not outgrowing its moorings and will make the maintenance of the espaliered tree far easier.

Where to Plant Your Espalier

Location – it’s obviously extremely important to consider this factor when planning your espalier. Especially if the tree is going to be against a wall rather than a naked trellis as this will invariably restrict sunlight to the plant. The plant should still get no less than 6 hours of sunlight so a south facing wall is ideal. When planted against a solid wall, it should be planted around 6-8 inches out, with a wire frame to trellis to assist growth. As with all trees, soil conditions are also important to consider.

How to Espalier Fruit Trees

• Prune your plant right back, to leave only a few buds and cut the tree horizontally just above a bud leaving at least 2-3 buds below the bud where you cut. This will get the tree to send out branches horizontally which will, with a little help, travel along the frame to create the effect of the espalier. 

• It is important to encourage a strong root structure to grow, as this will lead to healthier growth for the whole plant, including the fruit when it arrives. This can be accomplished by soaking the roots in water before you plant, and ensuring the sapling is well watered.

• You can train the branches to grow in the desired pattern through allowing the buds only to grow along the supporting wires and/or trellis by attaching them to the structure with string.

• Use a double, figure-of-eight, knot when tying the spurs to the trellis or wire. If you tie the tree in such a way that it is pressed against the wire it increases the chances of damage and disease.

• Don’t forget to prune and train your espalier regularly, as well as cutting the main trunk off where it was originally cut to keep things growing in the right direction. A failure to prune and train frequently can lead to a less than perfect outcome.

Cultivating an espalier is not a task for the novice gardener. But with the right rootstock, species and soil type, and a whole lot of green thumbed love, you can create a spectacularly beautiful orchard even in the smallest of spaces.