Espaliers in the Backyard Oasis

If limited space is a concern in your backyard oasis you may want to consider planting Espalier plants (pronounced “es-PAL-ye”) is. And what is an espalier plant? By the dictionaries definition: it is any plant trained to grow in a flat plane against a wall, fence, or trellis.
photo credit: Dawn Endico

I remember seeing my first apple espalier trees at a garden park and they fascinated me. They had an oriental artistic look and were covered with a large crop of apples. The park attendant told me these unique trees had a long history and were used for ornamental value as well as to save space in small gardens and cities.
 
Growing an espalier can be challenging if you have not grown them before. You have to learn the skills to properly prune it, but once the plant has its shape quick pruning will keep it in check.

Espaliers were started in the old world to conserve space in small space gardens and orchards. Espaliered fruit trees were placed against a south-facing wall. This gave them a small degree of cold protection from winds and colder temperatures. By using this growing method you could grow fruits and shrubs in a cooler than normal climate. It would also protect more delicate plants or protect crops.

Espaliers are very decorative and artistic in form and make great accent plantings in formal gardens. They become a focal point in plantings with their decorative artistic form. And each tree or plant has its own unique look. They will liven up bare walls, particularly when in bloom or covered with fruit. Many people see espaliers as a living sculpture or garden art.
photo credit: Indiewench
 
Espaliers, with their flat growth, will fit in narrow areas where other plants will not, so are beneficial in towns, cities and small backyard garden areas. Another benefit of espaliers is that they make excellent yard barriers and will create more privacy in urban living areas.
 
Almost any plant can be espaliered. However, some plants are better suited than others. Plants that produce many flexible lateral branches and attractive flowers or fruit and foliage are excellent choices. Fruit trees such as apple, fig, loquat, pear, peach and plum make excellent espaliers and make a beautiful visual display in the spring when in bloom.

Fruit trees should be espaliered against an east-facing wall or on a freestanding trellis. And special care must be taken in desert areas to make sure they are placed correctly as the heat will cook fruit on a south or west-facing wall quickly. One advantage to espaliered fruit trees is that the fruit will get more sunlight and ripe quickly. This is a common problem with fruit trees grown in the normal tradition.

Ornamental plants what make excellent espaliers are Crape myrtle, flowering plum, Japanese privet, yew podocarpus, photinia, and pyracantha.
photo credit: The County Clerk

The most popular pattern of a formal espalier is the multiple tiered cordon. Tiers of horizontal branches are formed starting 18 inches off the ground, and each proceeding tier is 18 inches above the previous one. Apple, pear, fig, podocarpus and pyracantha are good candidates for this style.

Once shaped, espaliers are relatively easy to maintain and add beauty to any garden. But one precaution you must be aware of is using pesticides on espaliers. It is very easy to get too much and injure the tree or shrub. I would recommend using natural pest controls only.

Espaliers add beauty and a distinct focal point to any garden area and will give you more space for other plants or activities in a small space backyard oasis. And espaliers can be grown in large pots and grown on patios and balconies.