Apple Espalier Update - Why Isn't My Tree Leafing Out?

[@jeffstieren4474]

Excellent job and yes you have a nice green thumb. Talking yourself through these situations like this is what makes us better gardeners. My mistake was trying to grow blueberry’s in a neutral soil and the wrong variety. Once I moved them and used the correct acidic soil combination they are now extremely happy. As a landscaper and planting for over three decades, root balls 25-30% of the ball out of the ground and burn up to it. This is for zone 6 and with you sandy soil, it’s most likely you plant and ground level. Keep up the great work.

[@TheFruitGrove]

That's a great tip for heavier soil - planting above ground level a bit. Thanks for the encouragement!

[@jeffstieren4474]

@@TheFruitGrove I must tell you, you are a very beautiful woman and your passion is awesome. Keep your channel going.

[@Jacqueline-Luo]

Oh my goodness, I am a beginner gardener and this video saved my fruit trees as I realised that I have dug them too deep! Thank you, I need to rescue them immediately.

[@TheFruitGrove]

I’m so glad to help! Good luck!

[@deborahevans4811]

Really appreciated your honesty, and sense your frustration with the mistake. But it is good to forgive ourselves for the inevitable miscalculations and bloopers we will do as we garden. Fingers crossed the little tree blooms now. Also, maybe just put in extra wire where the two branches are? Looks like you could fit another couple of wires on your posts.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks! It's doing well. I just posted an update video about how the rest of this season has gone (kzbin.info/www/bejne/baPQYmpsZayWj80). And yes, I'm considering just adding new wires for that tree!

[@V48-dcly-8c4a]

Thank you for an honest video! As a moderately experienced gardener, I learned so much more from your "mistake" than I generally do from videos with perfect outcomes. Gardening is an amazing journey!

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thank you! I'm determined to share the "downs" as well as the "ups" - no instagram-perfect gardening here (at least not most of the time)

[@KK-FL]

Oh man I have killed so many plants in my day (including 2 apple trees). Paying attention to your plants like you did is the way to help yourself be more successful, even when there's a mistake. So glad you figured it out!

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks so much! I have killed my share too, but that's how we learn right?

[@elizabethwingfield9326]

So happy that you figured it out and the tree is waking up! Don't be too hard on yourself! If the nursery potted it up too deep and you were just planting it at the level of the pot, like they tell you, then it's not your fault. Everyday we learn something and get better!!

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks! I definitely felt better knowing the problem happened back at the nursery. I will now be checking every plant and tree I buy to make sure they are not buried in the pot!

[@Cieloan]

Yay! So glad you figured it out. I'm just starting two espalier apple trees in my garden, and your videos have been really helpful. ❤

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thank you! I'm working on a big year 2 update video with pruning info, etc so stay tuned. I was SO gratified that I figured out this problem and the tree is ok!

[@virginiatibbetts1551]

My Anna espalier is producing apples already. Only two years old, here in So. Cal. My espalier Fuji, same age, has a lot less growth but does have a few leaves and blossoms. So far they seem healthy. My guess is that these are apples that produce in different months, which is okay with me. The full tree Fuji in the back yard is at the same stage as the one in the front. I had some root knot nematodes so I sprayed beneficial nematodes last winter. The backyard tree has had issues with coddling moths, so we treat a few times a year with Surround clay spray. I learned this trick from James Prigioni and Growfully with Jenna. Great critical thinking video. Thanks.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks for the tips! I'm hoping to get apples on the Anna next year (year 3)

[@tOmMarzig]

The graph union was probably too deep in the nursery pot. Always something to watch for.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Yep, that's exactly what happened. Maddening. Lesson learned.

[@roxyroller1977oxo]

Thank you for sharing your mistake so that we can learn.

[@TheFruitGrove]

My pleasure! Mistakes are par for the course for sure, but there's no better way to learn.

[@andrewhensel3894]

Did lifting the tree fix the issue? Another update coming soon?

[@TheFruitGrove]

It did! If you watch to the very end of the video, I point out the beginning of new growth about a week later. The tree looks great now even though it got a late start. I'll do a full update video at the end of the summer.

[@andrewhensel3894]

@@TheFruitGrove thanks for the update

[@sheilatorres1908]

Thank you for this. I’m thinking about doing two espalier trees and this has been a most helpful video.