How to build an espalier trellis for fruit trees

GROW YOUR OWN Foodscape and organic garden in your frontyard.
foodscapingutah.org
We show how to build a trellis to grow espalier fruit trees. We show how to dig post holes and set posts, and then two different ways to hang wires. The first uses eye hooks, steel wire, and turnbuckles. And the second uses a kit designed for espalier wires in wooden posts.
For more on how to espalier fruit trees, check out our video '3 ways to espalier fruit trees' • Espalier fruit trees: ...
Also watch our video featuring our Belgian fence of apple trees to see how pruned young apple trees, to get them started training in the lattice design: • Belgian Fence Espalier...
Read more about espalier and how to get started at foodscapingutah.org/2017/12/1...
The American Horticultural Society's book "Pruning & Training" is a great resource for all things training and pruning including espalier.
Learn more about Foodscaping Utah at foodscapingutah.org

[@kawerkamp]

For those of us who aren't particularly handy, I really appreciate that you show how to do each step in detail, (how to put in the eyehooks, turnbuckles, etc.) Awesome instructional videos!

[@foodscapingutah5239]

Thanks!

[@beebob1279]

He’s very good. I’ve been watching his videos.

[@GrandmaSandy]

Hi my dear friend thank you so much for sharing your beautiful garden with us and thanks for Also sharing how you put it all together hugs and kisses from grandma Sandy and Debbie it’s going to be a beautiful garden with loving hands that you have put together thanks for sharing. Hugs and kisses from grandma Sandy and Debbie

[@DinakarJayarajan]

Just the video I was looking for

[@babox8244]

If you braced up both posts with a 2X4 in between them,you would be able to ratchet up your wires better without altering the posts, keeping them nice and plumb .

[@foodscapingutah5239]

Good idea.

[@seedylee]

perfect! i just learned about turnbuckles. looks like i'm going to have to do some more research on these options. those trees look great. i'm also doing 4x4 fence posts.

[@foodscapingutah5239]

Great! Glad it was helpful.

[@joeinge4808]

Tip: wrap the bottom entire to a few inches above ground level with window seal tape. Also, 1/2 shovel of cement so the bottom is encased. Longer life for the system.

[@beebob1279]

My first time on your page. The new wiring system that you demonstrated the installation is very similar to wiring a bee frame for using wax foundation.

[@foodscapingutah5239]

Thanks for the info!

[@XroorX]

Doing this with rare Montross Black apple variety!

[@bun9000]

Redwood?? I'm so jealous that y'all are able to get Redwood from the bigbox stores out west! Just a little east in Texas, NOPE! 😭

[@seanjamescameron]

Hi. How far apart are the actual posts? Thank you.

[@MOinNC]

Amazon doesn't have the Espalar kits in stock. Do you know of any other sources?

[@priscillamutungi6627]

What gauge wire are you using

[@erymillan-coffey1554]

Hi, I'm curious about why you went to wood after having metal posts in the older espalier?

[@foodscapingutah5239]

No reason really. We like them both! The wood seemed to fit better with the design in the front yard and for the newest one in the backyard we were wanting to see how inexpensive it could be. The tall metal posts are expensive. 😊

[@MrMattrowland]

What’s the distancing between the posts if you need to do a long run?

[@foodscapingutah5239]

It can vary if you need it too. We like 8-10 feet per tree and use semi-dwarfing rootstock, but some people go up to 15 feet. You can also vary distancing based on vigor. The mulberry in this video is a dwarf and the posts are closer together. Some growers use standard rootstock though and in that case I would personally space them wider, probably 15 feet. Either way it comes more down to staying consistent with the pruning. -Hope this helps!

[@jcrane45585]

At 3:48 you can see raised beds behind you. How have you oriented your espalier to avoid blocking sun for your beds? I have a similar set up and am worried about shading my beds

[@foodscapingutah5239]

Yes! Good question. The espalier is on the west edge of the beds. Roughly eight feet away counting path and only five and half feet tall. So the shadow they cast doesn’t hit the beds until late in the day.

[@Watt_Li_Crew]

How long does an untreated redwood post last in the ground? Do you recommend pre-treating post with a sealant and using concrete for stability or is this overkill?

[@foodscapingutah5239]

Hi Brian. In a dry climate untreated redwood or cedar can last for many years in the ground, but I think it can vary quite a bit depending on soil moisture. We don't usually recommend using a sealant. As for using concrete, I would tend to say it is overkill for espalier fruit trees, but I think this also could vary depending on soil texture. Our clayey soil tamps and packs in very well so it is quite stable backfilling with soil alone, but very sandy soils may not do as well without concrete.

[@MichelleHernandezcraftymaven]

Does the height matter if planting an Apple tree on dwarf rootstock? Why 5 feet tall? And how nany feet apart for the posts? Why that length? Thanks!

[@foodscapingutah5239]

Five feet tall sounds good for an apple on fully dwarfing rootstock. The mulberry tree we planted here is a genetic dwarf so it should stay fairly small. Our apples are on semi-dwarfing rootstock in which case the height can be taller. We wouldn't want it to be taller than we can reach though. The other factor on height is the height of the posts. Posts can be 8 feet tall or 10 feet tall but then you want to bury close to 1/3 of the post underground to make sure it is well secured. So for 8 ft posts we bury 2.5ft and for 10 ft posts we bury at least 3ft. As for spacing the posts, this dwarf mulberry has posts 6 feet apart, but our semi-dwarf espalier trees are usually 10 feet apart. -Really the spacing and height can vary quiet a bit: espalier is really all about how you manage the tree with summer pruning. You can make the tree fit the space by staying on top of the pruning. Good luck! I bet your apples will be delicious!

[@delynn2421]

Do you plant the trees directly under the support lines or a few inches in front?

[@foodscapingutah5239]

Almost under but maybe an inch in front should work well, but it's not a big deal either way.

[@delynn2421]

@@foodscapingutah5239 Thanks! Planted the trees last weekend need to run the wire and bamboo supports then cut back the trees.

[@delynn2421]

@@foodscapingutah5239 I need to cut the main shoot down. It already started blooming out. It is too late or no?

[@beebob1279]

Great question. Things people would miss until it’s time to plant.

[@talluribalaji1222]

Hi How far apart are your posts? . Thanks

[@foodscapingutah5239]

8 to 10 feet typically, these were 9 feet.

[@vnickcolvin4971]

Where did you get the wire kit?

[@foodscapingutah5239]

Here's our Amazon Affiliate link to the Espalar kit on Amazon: amzn.to/2ziz6id -I'm not sure if these kits or something similar is available locally. We got the turnbuckles at a local hardware store.

[@vnickcolvin4971]

Foodscaping Utah perfect thanks

[@angiecrain1623]

Have you ever seen lightning strike this? Is it possible?

[@foodscapingutah5239]

Hi Angie, I haven’t seen or heard of lightning strikes. I suppose anything is possible, but I don’t think these would be more susceptible to lightning than other trees or other fences.

[@shantelfullerton9865]

I really like the Stodoys plans.