Just curious if anyone on an actual homestead or farm has either espalier trained a tree themselves, or purchased one for their homestead?
If seen a few different varieties, some with multiple types grafted to one rootstock.
Just looking for opinion and experiences. Thanks!
by HairexpertMidwest
4 Comments
Interesting. Since it’s multiple trees grafted to one rootstock it can pollinate without having other trees nearby? Is that what it means?
One of my old biology teachers was really into grafting and did something like this himself. He’d trained it to grow along a fence and had 8 or 9 varieties on it if I recall correctly.
We actually were talking about doing a couple for ornamental purposes along the wall of the building we put in last year. That’s really all they are good for imo because you’re only getting a few of any one cultivar.
I’ve seen a few espaliered apple trees supported by a garden fence and they were fun, low growing (easy harvest) and really attractive. They looked really healthy too.
That said I wouldn’t personally go that route unless I really wanted that aesthetic because it didn’t seem to me like something that’s worth the time in maintenance. The limbs will need extra support, needs more careful pruning etc.