We learn from the scriptures that because Adam partook of the forbidden fruit, that he was to be kicked out of the Garden of Eden. And that the ground would no longer spontaneously produce fruits and flowers, but thorns and thistles., and that it was only through hard work that they would be able to feed themselves. But that this labor was for his sake, in other words it was a blessing. Planting and gardening is a huge blessing in my life, particularly panting things with a harvest. I struggle because I only life on .21 acres of land in the middle of the city. I dream of owning acres and acres, but that dream has yet to become a reality.
Espalier is the ancient horticultural practice of pruning fruit bearing plants to grow on a flat surface, a way of creating a living fence or wall. Today, not only is it an ancient art form, and used to create visual interest in manicured gardens, but it is also a great way to grow fruit in small suburban yards that typically would not provide enough space to grow fruit trees. Last year I decided I wanted to grow a pear tree and an apple tree. Pear trees are not self pollinating, and therefore you need at least two pears, and only golden delicious apple trees are self pollinating, so if you want any other variety of apple tree you need two. There is no way I would have room for four additional fruit trees in my yard ( I already have an apricot tree and a peach tree). So I decided to espalier them along my back wall.
This photo was taken just a few days ago. (they are doing construction on the free way system just behind my house so don't mind the mess. One more reason to add trees, to help hide the mess.
You can see it is growing quite healthy and is starting to have four layers of branches. This tree is only a year old, and look how well it is doing. Next spring I will chop the top off to force another set of branches to grow out.
A year ago, this is what it looked like
Honestly I thought how in the world are these going to grow into anything, they were just sticks. I planted them a foot away from the wall, and set up my supports, 10 foot fence posts with wire running between them. My wires are 16 inches a part. Everything I read said to chop the tree where you want your first branches to grow. This scared me, I was sure I was going to kill my trees. So I did it for two of them. And just simply planted the other two. And then I waited.
As they grew and got to the next wire 16 inches up, I chopped it right above the next wire, and magically new branches would appear.
The other two I would just wait for branches to show up and tie them down to the wires as they grew.
I use green gardening tape (you can find some here). I like this stuff because I can just rip it, so I don't need any scissors or anything, it ties easily and it doesn't cut into my plants, it stretches with hem
Here is my other apple tree. (my apple trees are the two I cut to force the first limbs) Ignore the dying Marigolds it is fall and I hadn't yet prepared these beds for winter.
Here is my two pear trees, I don't know if pear trees are just slower growing as a whole than the apple trees, or if cutting them back that first year caused the apple trees to have more strength. But I do know that next time around I wouldn't hesitate to chop them where I want the first branches to grow, because the apple trees haven't struggled at all.
I am supper excited for next spring to see how they do. And oh so excited to have found room to plant more fruit trees. Other benefits from what I hear, but I don't know because they have yet to bear fruit is, that this makes it very easy to pick the fruit, because it is all on a flat surface. I will keep you posted as I learn.
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