We moved house late last year and our new garden has trees, mostly fruit I think, all down one fence line. It looks like they're supposed to be espaliered but have been let go. Photos of some of them.
Please ignore the state of the flower beds along the bottom. they're on my list of things to do, just haven't had time yet to get started on them!
I know nothing about gardening or pruning and how to look after fruit trees so any advice on how to get these trees back on track would be marvellous. Can they be pruned back enough that we can continue with the espaliering? How do I know which branches to cut or keep? When can I cut them back, do I have to wait for a certain time of year? I've googled but there are too many options, too much info, not enough info, I just get lost eh.
Help! I need someone to tell me what to do with them please!
maclad,
Mar 17, 3:26am
Any of those long whip like branches, 2nd pic, at the lower level, should be pulled down and tied to fence. Then any upright growths should be shortened back and encouraged sideways. Some of the tall growth needs to thinned, removed and shortened well back. Probably removed totally as there is no where to anchor it. Any long growth below the fence top should be shortened well back and any growth coming out from the fence removed or shortened. Once this is done keep tying and training them regularly for successful plants. Some of the existing lower branches may be able to be lowered down a bit more if they are still flexiable enough allowing for some of the top growth to be pulled down and anchored increasing the amount of wood in the tree. Trees should end up somewhat resembling a fan shape,
piquant,
Mar 17, 9:25am
Well, I don't necessarily agree with that evaluation. It looks like these trees were started off as cordons. Which basically means that the lateral branches are at right angles to the trunk (as much as possible) The central leader (trunk) should be stopped at the required height (obviously, the top of the fence) so pretty much all the top growth should be removed. It has simply been left to do its own thing which is putting energy into that growth, rather than the laterals - hence the lack of fruit. My suggestion is - find someone who is an expert at espaliering to do your initial prune and to re-establish the cordon. BUT - keep a close eye on what he/she does and ask questions as to why they cut where. It will soon become evident (like rose pruning) that cutting in certain places forces new growth from a bud that will continually help with the structure of the cordon. All sounds a bit complicated, but really, it's common sense when you know the reasons. There are differing forms of espaliering - the one maclad referred to above is a fan espalier, but that is not what you have. I'm attaching a basic guide from Waimea nurseries - one of the biggest fruit tree nurseries in NZ who also do formative pruning on some of their stock to start people off on the right foot if they want to espalier. I would just comment though, that the training wires should really be 15cms or so clear of the fence so as the branches mature and the fruit forms on the spurs that there is room for them to grow and ripen without being damaged by rubbing against the fence. I doubt that you could really remedy this at this late stage though. Ask your expert if they would recommend two goes at this problem. Personally, I would do some, at least, thinning now with the pruning in May/June ish. That's my best advice. https://www.waimeanurseries.co.nz/how-to-guide/how-to-espalier-fruit-trees/
debbie7,
Mar 19, 9:15pm
Thanks for the replies and for the link piquant. I've pruned (butchered?) the trees this weekend, fastening branches loosely to the wires where I could. Everything else has been removed. Offshoots on these tied branches I've cut back so there are 2 or 3 leaf sections(?) remaining. If it works awesome, if not well it was worth a try eh. A couple of the trees look just about dead anyway with very few and really tatty leaves on so it may be that we dig them out next year if there's no new growth and try again from scratch. I have no idea what they are apart from one has green apples on - these were inedible, even my dog didn't eat any, really sour. Another tree had 1 pear on it!
We also have a peach, nectarine and some sort of red apple tree in the middle of the garden which need pruning but haven't attacked them yet. The fruit on these was also inedible although they did get quite a lot of fruit. I'm guessing that I need to do some sort of spraying to get nice fruit so that'll be my next google workout. Our dog did like these though, even standing up in there to pick her own. going to have to break that little habit!
We have an orange tree that was full of fruit last year when we moved in and is now covered again in baby fruit. They were perfect to look at but tasted foul - really sour but not in a nice grapefruit way. I think maybe sevilles? There's 3 or 4 lemon +/or lime bushes too.
There are a few others we don't know what they are yet but it seems like every tree is fruit of some sort so we are watching to see what else we have. I think I need to find a local gardening group to join, get some guidance from people with know-how ^_^
articferrit,
Dec 8, 2:43am
I was going to suggest that you contact you local garden club, neighbours or even ask on neighbourly if there is someone retired who lives near you who can offer advice, or even do some work for you and trade for fruit, veges or something else.
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