Tips on growing, trimming, and general troubleshooting espalier apple trees. - Ask Extension
I have been doing a bunch of reading on espalier apple trees, mainly because the good sun is on the side of my house and I can't put full blown trees ...
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Tips on growing, trimming, and general troubleshooting espalier apple trees. #833082
Asked May 31, 2023, 9:19 PM EDT
I have been doing a bunch of reading on espalier apple trees, mainly because the good sun is on the side of my house and I can't put full blown trees in there without intruding into my neighbors yard. The problem is, with all the reading I have done, none of the books, websites, or blogs seem to have a "What to do if...". I was hoping someone here could give me some assistance.
I have 6 dwarf apple trees that I have planted in my yard. 3 last year and 3 this year. The first three did great. Side branches are tied down and growing great. I cut the vertical leader branch from last years growth to start making new side branches for this year, but I am not having great luck with new side branches. Only one of the three produced 3 new branches (2 sides and one leader), the other 2 only produced two branches total so far.
1. How can I stimulate more branches from growing (either this year or next)
2. Do I just assume my dwarf trees can't grow 3 tiers high and stop at 2 tiers?
3. The side branches from year one are growing so fast. Should I trim those back to pump more growth in the upper portions?
The 3 trees from this year aren't growing as vigorously as last years trees. I have fertilized them and made sure they are watered a bit more often. But...
1. How can I stimulate more branches (since some only have 2).
2. Should I just let it grow and wait a year before attempting pruning?
3. The one tree that has 3 branches has the best leader branch growing under one of the possible side branches. Can the leader branch be under a side branch? It won't get in the way, I Just didn't know if this would affect growth of the side branch.
I have an album of the trees in questions here: https://imgur.com/a/9tbaMS6
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi-
1. How can I stimulate more branches from growing (either this year or next). Heading back the leader to force two side-shoots. Heading back the first tier of horizontal shoots close to the trunk to produce two shoots which can be trained as two tiers (see photo toward the end of this page). It may be too late in the season but sometimes you can notch the bark below a bud that won't open on a leader to force it.
2. Do I just assume my dwarf trees can't grow 3 tiers high and stop at 2 tiers? We assume these trees are grafted on strongly dwarfing rootstock. It's typical to go with two tiers.
3. The side branches from year one are growing so fast. Should I trim those back to pump more growth in the upper portions? Yes, they should be headed back to 3 ft. or so. Side shoots that break from the horizontals should be cut back to 3-4 inches to force spur development.
1. How can I stimulate more branches (since some only have 2).
2. Should I just let it grow and wait a year before attempting pruning? See above- you can give them another year or cut the leader to force new growth
3. The one tree that has 3 branches has the best leader branch growing under one of the possible side branches. Can the leader branch be under a side branch? It won't get in the way, I Just didn't know if this would affect growth of the side branch. Yes, the lower shoot can be selected as the leader once the side branches are bent to the wire.
Apple espaliers work best when the tree(s) receive at least 8 hours of direct sun each day and the rootstock is highly dwarfing, and the grafted variety produces most of the fruit buds on fruiting spurs (compressed, thick stem tissue).
Some Extension web pages on fruit espalier you may have already seen:
U. of Wisconsin Extension
Oregon State U.
Fine Gardening article and Royal Hort Society webpage with detailed information on stimulating bud growth:
https://www.finegardening.com/project-guides/pruning/espalier
https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/apples/training-espalier
We suggest that you become familiar with the many potential pests and diseases. See the VA Tech spray schedule for preventing and managing apple insect pest and disease problems.
Jon
1. How can I stimulate more branches from growing (either this year or next). Heading back the leader to force two side-shoots. Heading back the first tier of horizontal shoots close to the trunk to produce two shoots which can be trained as two tiers (see photo toward the end of this page). It may be too late in the season but sometimes you can notch the bark below a bud that won't open on a leader to force it.
2. Do I just assume my dwarf trees can't grow 3 tiers high and stop at 2 tiers? We assume these trees are grafted on strongly dwarfing rootstock. It's typical to go with two tiers.
3. The side branches from year one are growing so fast. Should I trim those back to pump more growth in the upper portions? Yes, they should be headed back to 3 ft. or so. Side shoots that break from the horizontals should be cut back to 3-4 inches to force spur development.
1. How can I stimulate more branches (since some only have 2).
2. Should I just let it grow and wait a year before attempting pruning? See above- you can give them another year or cut the leader to force new growth
3. The one tree that has 3 branches has the best leader branch growing under one of the possible side branches. Can the leader branch be under a side branch? It won't get in the way, I Just didn't know if this would affect growth of the side branch. Yes, the lower shoot can be selected as the leader once the side branches are bent to the wire.
Apple espaliers work best when the tree(s) receive at least 8 hours of direct sun each day and the rootstock is highly dwarfing, and the grafted variety produces most of the fruit buds on fruiting spurs (compressed, thick stem tissue).
Some Extension web pages on fruit espalier you may have already seen:
U. of Wisconsin Extension
Oregon State U.
Fine Gardening article and Royal Hort Society webpage with detailed information on stimulating bud growth:
https://www.finegardening.com/project-guides/pruning/espalier
https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/apples/training-espalier
We suggest that you become familiar with the many potential pests and diseases. See the VA Tech spray schedule for preventing and managing apple insect pest and disease problems.
Jon
