No garden space? This smart technique lets you grow fruit trees in small areas

With rents so high, it’s no wonder you’re reading this from your flat with little outdoor space — nobody these days can afford a mansion.

But fear not, dear reader, you don’t need acres to cultivate productive plants. Just take a look at espalier, a centuries-old technique that transforms trees into elegant living art, pressed flat against a fence or wall.

This method, finessed by the gardeners at Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV, was originally devised to shield trees from harsh winter winds and to make efficient use of masonry for heat retention. But it gets even better: gardeners discovered a pleasant bonus: these flat-trained trees soak up more sunlight, shrug off cold better, and sometimes yield even more fruit than traditionally grown counterparts.

How to start and maintain your espalier

Not every tree is suited for this treatment; but many with pliable branches thrive when fit into two-dimensional shapes. For example, apples, pears, cherries, figs, peaches, plums, quince all work, even varieties like magnolia, firethorn, or witch hazel.

Creating an espalier is a task in persistence and precision. Just gently remove unwanted shoots and train the chosen limbs horizontally, keeping them tied to a support structure.

In the early phase, encourage growth—rather than fruiting—by feeding your tree a high-nitrogen formulation (like a 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 fertiliser) three times over the growing season. Only once the desired form is in place should you switch to a fruit-focused fertiliser, applying it just once annually in spring.