Espalier
Espalier is an artful horticultural practice that trains fruiting or ornamental trees, shrubs, and woody vines to grow flat against walls, fences, or freestanding frames. Not only does this technique maximize small outdoor spaces, but it also elegantly conceals unsightly surfaces.
Our espalier systems utilize durable stainless steel wire and turnbuckles, ensuring the wire remains taut and can be easily adjusted for optimal growth.
Experience the beauty practicality of espalier in your garden today!
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Below is a bit of information about Espaliers and it's history. I find it interesting and I hope you do too.
Espalier is the horticultural practice of controlling woody plant growth for the production of fruit, by pruning and tying branches to a frame. Plants are frequently shaped in formal patterns, flat against a structure such as a wall, fence, or trellis, and also plants which have been shaped in this way.
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Espaliers, trained into flat two-dimensional forms, are used not only for decorative purposes, but also for gardens in which space is limited. In cooler areas, espaliers may be trained next to a wall that can reflect more sunlight and retain heat overnight or oriented so that they absorb maximum sunlight by training them parallel to the equator. These two strategies allow the season to be extended so that fruit has more time to mature.
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A restricted form of training consists 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, one can decrease growth while increasing fruit production by training it horizontally.
About
In Hawkes Bay you will see that the orchards always have their rows of apple trees planted north to south, so the sun has as much time as possible on each side of the tree.
The word espalier is French, coming from the Italian spalliera, meaning "something to rest the shoulder (spalla) against." 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.
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Espalier as a technique seems to have started with the ancient Romans but was in the Middle Ages that the Europeans refined it into an art. The practice was popularly used 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 or perhaps even thousands of years.
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Espalier techniques allow gardeners to maximize their use of space, making it possible to grow fruit trees in small gardens, courtyards, or urban environments where land is scarce. By training plants to grow against walls or fences, gardeners can create beautiful and productive vertical gardens that serve both aesthetic and practical purposes.
Modern gardeners continue to use espalier not only for its historical charm but also for its efficiency and space-saving benefits. It is a practice that requires patience, skill, and artistry, as each tree must be carefully pruned and guided into its desired shape over several years. However, the rewards are plentiful. Espaliered trees can produce high yields of quality fruit, and their unique forms can enhance the visual appeal of any garden.
History