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Espalier (pronounced /ɨˈspælɪər/ or /ɨˈspæli.eɪ/) is the horticultural and ancient agricultural practice of controlling woody plant growth by pruning and tying branches so that they grow in relatively flat planes, frequently in formal patterns, against a structure such as a wall, fence, or trellis, and also plants which have been shaped in this way.[1]
Espalier, trained into flat two dimensional forms are ideal not only for decorative purposes, but also for gardens in which space is limited. In a temperate climate they may be; planted next to a wall that can reflect more sunlight and retain heat overnight or planted so that they absorb maximum sunlight by training them parallel to the equator (but in a climate where temperatures go below freezing this can cause sun-scald damaging the tree). These two facts allow the season to be extended so that fruit mature over a longer period.
A restricted form of training consisting of a central stem and a number of paired horizontal branches all trained in the same plane. The most important advantage is that of being able to increase the growth of a branch by training it vertically. Later, you can decrease growth while increasing fruit production by training it horizontally.
A belgian fence is created by cutting back an unbranched, slender tree to between fifteen and eighteen inches above the ground. The top most of three buds are allowed to form; one in the middle trained vertically while two others are trained into a V shape. Any other buds are rubbed away. Removing the vertical stem completes the individual V shaped espalier. By placing many similarly trained trees in a line two feet apart with their branches trained to the same plane a belgian fence is created.
The belgian fence is an intermediary form that can then be used to train onward to many other forms of espalier including; Step-over where the branches are lowered down to the horizontal in autumn while still flexible enough and tied to a trellis, Fan where the branches are lowered and cut back then trained further, Horizontal T where the branches are trained to horizontal as with step-over but the vertical stem is trained up to another level and cut usually in spring of the second year, where another V shape is created and the resulting branches finally being lowered to another wire in autumn of the second year. Multiple levels of horizontal branching can be trained in this way.
In each case branches are first trained vertically so they will grow vigorously and then later, after the desired growth is achieved, they are lowered to the horizontal to reduce their vigor while optimizing spur formation.
Espalier training can be used on full sized trees in order to force them to present their fruit within reach. As such it probably predates grafting of trees onto dwarfing root stock. Using dwarf or semi-dwarf plants is still a good idea as it reduces the amount of pruning that is necessary.
History
The word espalier is French, and it comes from the Italian spalliera, meaning “something to rest the shoulder (spalla) against.”[2] During the 17th Century, the word initially referred only to the actual trellis or frame on which such a plant was trained to grow, but over time it has come to be used to describe both the practice and the plants themselves.[1] The practice was popularly used in the Middle Ages in Europe to produce fruit inside the walls of a typical castle courtyard without interfering with the open space and to decorate solid walls by planting flattened trees near them. Vineyards have used the technique in the training of grapes for hundreds of years.
Species choices
In a given region, any disease and insect resistant species that grow well there might be good espalier candidates. Certain types of plants adapt better to this practice than others do, but almost any woody plant can be trained to grow along a flat plane by removing growth outside that plane.[2] The lateral branches of the plant should be many, long, and flexible.[2] Plants that are particularly suitable as espaliers display some combination of attractive flowers, fruit, foliage and bark.[2]
Suggested species for espalier include:
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Design options
Espalier frequently consists of complicated formal patterns, but can employ simple, free-flowing, informal designs too.[3] A stunted or deformed plant or one that already has interesting or unique characteristics might be just right for an informal espalier.[3]
Some common formal patterns include:
- Horizontal: Branches grow horizontally out of one central trunk
- Palmette or fan: Branches grow in a fan-shaped pattern
- Cordon: Consists of a main stem with short fruiting spurs. Usually tied to a fence or wire trellis.
- Belgian fence: More than one, V shaped espaliers, are planted two feet apart so that their branches cross, and are tied to a trellis.
- Baldassari palmette
- Lepage espalier
- Verrier candelabra
- U double
- Drapeau marchand: A cordon trained at an angle with the branches on its upper side trained to a right angle from the main stem.
- Stepover: A Horizontal espalier with only one set of branches tied to a wire around 15 inches above the ground.
Plant selection, installation, and maintenance
Espalier plants intended to grace a solid wall are usually installed at least six inches and preferably up to twelve inches from the base of that wall, to allow space below ground for roots to grow in all directions and space above ground for good air circulation and pest control.[3] Supports for wire guides, which are generally necessary to train an espalier into a design, are installed first, directly into a wall constructed of suitable material.[3] Masonry walls are ideal for placing u-bolts, eye bolts, or eye screws, anchored with either plastic plugs or expandable lead shields, directly into the mortar joints.[3] Wooden walls may be better fitted with galvanized nipples, using turnbuckles for adjustment of the wire tautness.[3]
Suitable established healthy plants, three to four feet tall in perhaps three-gallon containers, are available from most nurseries.[3] Some may even have trellises already installed and these could also be good candidates for espalier treatment, if their form is similar to the intended design, as they frequently have already been pruned into a flattened overall plant shape.[3] All that is required for such specimens is transplanting. Unpruned plants benefit from being allowed to become well established following transplant, before pruning them gradually into their flattened profile and training them as designed.[3] Any major pruning needed is generally accomplished either while the plant is dormant, or for flowering plants, during the proper season for pruning that species.[3] Bending and training of the limbs that will remain in the design is done during the progression of the summer season, when they are most flexible.[3]
Related tree shaping practices
See also
Gallery
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A fanned fruittree
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Another fanned fruittree
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A special cordon-type fruittree
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Biodegradable binding tube is often used to train trees into patterns
References
Notes
- ^ a b Evans, Erv, Espalier, North Carolina State University Horticultural Science Department Cooperative Extension Service, retrieved 2010-06-29
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab Brown, Sydney Park; Yeager, Thomas H.; Black, Robert J. (September 2007) [May 1985], Circular 627: Espaliers (PDF), Florida, USA: Department of Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, p. 1
{{citation}}: More than one of|pages=and|page=specified (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad Powell, M. A. "Kim" (4/97) [6/94], Leaflet No. 619: Espalier, North Carolina, US: North Carolina State University Department of Horticultural Science Cooperative Extension Service., p. 1
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