Espaliered Wall-Trained Fruit Trees of Heligan
Many areas of Heligan's 'Productive Gardens' are enclosed by walls which provide a canvas for the art of fruit tree sculpture. The term 'espalier' has become a catch phrase for all the different patterns of fruit training, but specific forms can benefit fruit production of individual varieties which were chosen to extend the harvesting season. The practice maximizes sunlight to fruits, conserves space, allows for easy harvesting and netting protection against garden pests. And typical of practical-classical gardening design, it is so beautiful!
Oh that all my plastic soda bottles were metal-framed glass hand lights! This tree's pattern is in the traditional 'espalier' form that I use on one of our pear trees.
Single cordons of apples.
Young limbs are attached to canes at a 45 degree angle for one year before being bent at right angles, which will hinder it's terminal growth, while encouraging fruit-bearing lateral spurs along the arms.
Grapes, berries, apricots, cherries and more can benefit from unlimited patterns of dimensional training on walls, fences and freestanding structures.
Heligan
Wild : A Year of Nature in the Lost Garden
by Colin Howlett