How to Get my Espaliered Apple to Bloom - Ask Extension
I planted an espaliered apple tree four years ago. It has a variety of apple types grafted onto its main stem. It gets a southeast exposure. I added c...
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How to Get my Espaliered Apple to Bloom #810163
Asked September 09, 2022, 5:51 PM EDT
I planted an espaliered apple tree four years ago. It has a variety of apple types grafted onto its main stem. It gets a southeast exposure. I added compost when I first planted it. The first year it bloomed and produced around 6 apples, the second year three, the third year two and this year none. I fertilized it a few times and prune it each winter. I have not pruned it since last winter. Any suggestions for how to get this plant to again bloom and produce apples?
Thank you.
Bill
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi-
Apple espaliers work best when the tree(s) receive at least 8 hours of direct sun each day, the rootstock is highly dwarfing, the grafted variety produces most of the fruit buds on fruiting spurs (compressed, thick stem tissue), and a crabapple tree or a second variety (pollenizer tree) is nearby. Single apple trees that have multiple varieties are rarely successful because each variety has its own unique growth habits.
Shrubs and trees next to and in front of the apple tree compete for nutrients and water and slow down the drying of foliage which will encourage diseases. They should be moved or pruned back if you want to keep the apple tree. Espaliered apple trees produce fruit on the spurs of horizontal stems. Root suckers, water sprouts, and vertical shoots should be pruned out now. Once the leaves have fallen off, shorten the main horizontal "arms."
In spring and early summer you'll want to prune out vigorous vertical growth. Flowers and fruits should form from buds laid down this summer.
Over-fertilizing will increase foliar growth at the expense of flowers and fruits. Read our web page on fruit fertilizing:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/fertilizing-fruits
Some Extension web pages on fruit espalier:
U. of Wisconsin Extension
Oregon State U.
Jon
Apple espaliers work best when the tree(s) receive at least 8 hours of direct sun each day, the rootstock is highly dwarfing, the grafted variety produces most of the fruit buds on fruiting spurs (compressed, thick stem tissue), and a crabapple tree or a second variety (pollenizer tree) is nearby. Single apple trees that have multiple varieties are rarely successful because each variety has its own unique growth habits.
Shrubs and trees next to and in front of the apple tree compete for nutrients and water and slow down the drying of foliage which will encourage diseases. They should be moved or pruned back if you want to keep the apple tree. Espaliered apple trees produce fruit on the spurs of horizontal stems. Root suckers, water sprouts, and vertical shoots should be pruned out now. Once the leaves have fallen off, shorten the main horizontal "arms."
In spring and early summer you'll want to prune out vigorous vertical growth. Flowers and fruits should form from buds laid down this summer.
Over-fertilizing will increase foliar growth at the expense of flowers and fruits. Read our web page on fruit fertilizing:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/fertilizing-fruits
Some Extension web pages on fruit espalier:
U. of Wisconsin Extension
Oregon State U.
Jon
