The Art of Espalier: How to Train Fruit Trees Into 2D Sculptures
Tiny garden? Try espalier gardening, where plants are trained into compact 2D forms – a horticulturist reveals how
With many of us moving to smaller homes with compact gardens, the ancient gardening art of espalier is making a comeback. And it’s easy to see the appeal; training plants to grow flat against a wall or fence is a great way to save space, plus it can bring structural elegance to a modern garden. It’s also easier to do yourself than you might think. Here’s how to create these two-dimensional style botanical sculptures in your backyard.
A traditional art for contemporary gardens
Today, espaliering creates a compact and decorative tree that’s perfect for city courtyards and small gardens. Because trained trees are more compact, they make picking and netting fruit easier, fruit often ripens earlier, and the flowers and fruit are artfully displayed.
So, with a little patience and thoughtful pruning you can create a living work of art in your garden.
Find a gardener or landscape contractor on Houzz to help bring your garden vision to life
Today, espaliering creates a compact and decorative tree that’s perfect for city courtyards and small gardens. Because trained trees are more compact, they make picking and netting fruit easier, fruit often ripens earlier, and the flowers and fruit are artfully displayed.
So, with a little patience and thoughtful pruning you can create a living work of art in your garden.
Find a gardener or landscape contractor on Houzz to help bring your garden vision to life
Choose the best trees for the job
Virtually any tree can be espaliered into a basic shape, but some trees do work better than others. Apples and pear trees create beautiful espaliers, so do olive and citrus trees. Other fruit trees such as cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots can also be crafted into simple designs.
For something different, try your hand at espaliering a fruiting vine, such as grape or kiwi fruit. If you prefer blooms to fruit, flowering cherries and plums, crab apples, cercis and crepe myrtle all make lovely espaliers.
Virtually any tree can be espaliered into a basic shape, but some trees do work better than others. Apples and pear trees create beautiful espaliers, so do olive and citrus trees. Other fruit trees such as cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots can also be crafted into simple designs.
For something different, try your hand at espaliering a fruiting vine, such as grape or kiwi fruit. If you prefer blooms to fruit, flowering cherries and plums, crab apples, cercis and crepe myrtle all make lovely espaliers.
Get started in the chilly months
Winter reveals the bare branches and forms of deciduous fruit trees such as apples and pears, so it’s the perfect time to design and create an espalier.
Adventurous gardeners can choose a range of designs, from fan shapes, U-shaped espaliers, and candelabra designs to intricate diamond patterns that command attention. But if you’re just starting out, it’s best to opt for a simple horizontal espalier.
10 Terrific Trees for Your Courtyard
Winter reveals the bare branches and forms of deciduous fruit trees such as apples and pears, so it’s the perfect time to design and create an espalier.
Adventurous gardeners can choose a range of designs, from fan shapes, U-shaped espaliers, and candelabra designs to intricate diamond patterns that command attention. But if you’re just starting out, it’s best to opt for a simple horizontal espalier.
10 Terrific Trees for Your Courtyard
Image by Cyclone
A Step-by-Step Guide to Espaliering
Get the right tools
You’ll need a quality pair of secateurs to get your espalier started and maintain the decorative shape over time. I’d recommend Cyclone’s Aluminium Bypass Pruners. For woody material that’s harder to cut, use a compact bypass lopper, which allows you to get through thicker stems with minimal effort.
How Do I… Clean and Care for Garden Tools?
A Step-by-Step Guide to Espaliering
Get the right tools
You’ll need a quality pair of secateurs to get your espalier started and maintain the decorative shape over time. I’d recommend Cyclone’s Aluminium Bypass Pruners. For woody material that’s harder to cut, use a compact bypass lopper, which allows you to get through thicker stems with minimal effort.
How Do I… Clean and Care for Garden Tools?
Create a horizontal design
1. Erect a series of wires on your fence or wall roughly 30 centimetres apart, using eye bolts to create a tight network of guide wires. The eye bolts push the wire out from the wall to allow for good air circulation and make it easier to maintain and prune the tree.
2. Plant your tree as close to the fence or wall as possible and line up the trunk with the centre of the wires.
3. Next, simply match the side branches to each wire to create a series of horizontal tiers. You might need to lightly bend a few branches to meet the guide wires. Tie each branch to the wire using flexible ties, placed every 20 centimetres or so. Then prune off any branches that don’t fit the pattern.
4. As the branches grow, gently tie them to the wires and prune out any new growth that doesn’t correspond with your desired shape. Prune up to three times a year to keep your espalier looking neat.
1. Erect a series of wires on your fence or wall roughly 30 centimetres apart, using eye bolts to create a tight network of guide wires. The eye bolts push the wire out from the wall to allow for good air circulation and make it easier to maintain and prune the tree.
2. Plant your tree as close to the fence or wall as possible and line up the trunk with the centre of the wires.
3. Next, simply match the side branches to each wire to create a series of horizontal tiers. You might need to lightly bend a few branches to meet the guide wires. Tie each branch to the wire using flexible ties, placed every 20 centimetres or so. Then prune off any branches that don’t fit the pattern.
4. As the branches grow, gently tie them to the wires and prune out any new growth that doesn’t correspond with your desired shape. Prune up to three times a year to keep your espalier looking neat.
Over time, you’ll see the shape of your tree develop beautifully. The first year is all about establishing the framework of your espalier. In the second year, the design really starts to take shape.
Depending on the size of the tree you started with, you can expect to have a beautiful espalier within five years (that only gets better with age). It’s a labour of love, but an artfully trained espalier, laden with flowers or fruit, is sure to be a main attraction in your garden or courtyard.
15 Productive Garden Ideas That Won’t Eat Up Your Backyard
Depending on the size of the tree you started with, you can expect to have a beautiful espalier within five years (that only gets better with age). It’s a labour of love, but an artfully trained espalier, laden with flowers or fruit, is sure to be a main attraction in your garden or courtyard.
15 Productive Garden Ideas That Won’t Eat Up Your Backyard
Your turn
Are you a fan of espalier? Tell us in the Comments below, save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more garden design ideas? Don’t miss Everything You Need to Know About Garden Lighting
Are you a fan of espalier? Tell us in the Comments below, save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more garden design ideas? Don’t miss Everything You Need to Know About Garden Lighting
Espaliering is the art of training a tree or shrub to grow against a wall or fence to create a flat, two-dimensional effect.
It’s a technique steeped in history that dates back to ancient Roman and Egyptian times, but it was during the Middle Ages in Europe that the art of training trees was perfected. Fruit trees were artfully espaliered against castle walls to provide fruit and decoration, without encroaching on the courtyard space. The flattened trees were grown against brick or stone, which absorbed the sun’s heat and created a favourable micro-climate for fruit production.