Knowledgebase
seeking advice on pruning three older espallier fruit trees #778188
Asked November 21, 2021, 3:11 PM EST
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
I shall need more information. Type of tree, cultivar and a picture of the espalier with trees. Thank you.
Unfortunately a site visit will not be possible. Fruit trees require pretty much full sun in order to set fruit buds and fruit. I also see two other things that would slow production: on an espalier there should be no straight up shoots. Probably the poor tree is reaching for sun, the source of its life. A second is that it appears that the mulch is piled against the tree. There should always be an 8-12" clear area at the base to prevent rodent damage and bark rot. Also, only spur-bearing apple varieties are well suited to espalier. Summer pruning is to restrict growth (after all an espalier is a restricted form) and to let in light to help the fruit ripen. The light also encourages buds for the following season. Best time is July-August. On older well-established trees, winter pruning is to maintain the structure and keep open areas for sun and air to increase the fruit buds. This following information comes from Stark Bros. Nursery
"You may need to prune two or three times per season to keep the tree in shape. The first pruning should be after it blooms in the spring. The flowers will indicate where the fruit will be, and you can prune accordingly. (Always use very sharp, clean shears that have been dipped in diluted bleach solution, or wiped down thoroughly with an alcohol wipe, rinsed and dried after each use to prevent potential disease spread.) While it usually takes about four years to get the full artistic effect of your efforts, you may actually see fruit as soon as the second year... but if you want the most from your espaliered tree, remove that developing fruit for a year or two. Then keep an eye on it, nipping off vertical shoots, and removing suckers and water sprouts. Shorten the horizontal branches to encourage the development of a fruiting spur. Because there will be more fruiting spurs produced along the horizontal branches than the vertical trunk, eventually you will have many fruits setting on your espaliered tree, so make sure your support is strong."
I hope this helps. You do need to give the trees at least 6 hours of full sun during the growing season.
You are most welcome. I am happy I could help.