Espalier Fruit Tree Training Why Espalier? Advantages • Good use of narrow spaces • Narrow fruing wall – good sunlight penetraon • Efficient crop producon • Heat capture in winter on south-facing walls • Improved pest management: Ø Vertebrate pests Ø Certain insects and diseases Ø Beer spray coverage

Disadvantages • Trellis cost and installaon • Training & pruning takes me & knowledge • Challenging with fast-growing trees and trees Bird neng that fruit on long shoots or branches • Narrow canopy may increase sunburn and branch borers

Narrow space Exclusion of spoed wing drosophila (cherry maggot)

Chuck Ingels, Horculture Advisor Harvest Day 2017, Fair Oaks Horculture Center UCCE Master Gardeners of Sacramento County 1 hp://sacmg.ucanr.edu/, (916) 876-5338 Espalier Fruit Tree Training Methods

2 Espalier Fruit Tree Training Espalier Examples

Horizontal T (apple) 2-scaffold fan (peach)

Informal (mandarin) Fan (cherry) Photo: Caroline Hathaway

Palmee/Candelabra (A. pear) Stepover (apple)

3 Espalier Fruit Tree Training Building the Structure Wood Post Chain link post

Laivo Photo: Ed Extend concrete Chain link top rail (hole Top rails, tension bands, above soil & mulch saw to drill holes) and turnbuckle OR

Turnbuckle

Support wire Support wire & turnbuckle Earth from post aached to earth anchor anchor

4 Espalier Fruit Tree Training Peach Tree at FOHC

Before Pruning May 2015 Aer Main shoot cut, lowest lateral ed

Flowers (March 2016) Cut back (August 2016)

Few flowers! Vigorous growth! Cut back again (May 2017) (May 2017) (May 2017) 5 Espalier Fruit Tree Training Avoid Pialls

Buy trees with Trees need sun! House on le, lower branches! Fence & large tree on right.

Do summer pruning! Keep top pruned to avoid shading lower branches.

Asian pear Watch for sunburn Cherry 6