~ G A R D E N ~
Espalier
Remember one of the two key elements of French design in a garden is structure? French-style garden structure is achieved by sculpted plants and by geometrical garden designs. Espalier is a specialized form of both sculpted plants and a geometrical garden design.
es·pal·ier
əsˈpalyər,esˈpälyər,esˈpalyā/
noun
- 1.a fruit tree or ornamental shrub whose branches are trained to grow flat against a wall, supported on a lattice or a framework of stakes.
verb
- 1.train (a tree or shrub) to grow flat against a wall.
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Source: Google
Examples of espalier abound in public gardens throughout France. One well-known garden is the kitchen garden at Château Chenonceau that is bordered by apple trees espaliered along a low wire.
Heavy-laden espaliered pear trees are trained against a wooden wall of the terrace section of a restaurant in the Paris Botanical Garden - Jardin des Plantes. Rather befitting that a restaurant in one of the world's foremost botanical gardens has espaliered pear trees filled with fruit, don't you think?
The size, quantity, and quality of the fruit illustrate espaliered fruit trees are viable options for small garden spaces, such as balconies and terraces. A perfect fruit tree for a Paris apartment...
or... American gardens
in French country homes
Redenta's, a local garden center in Arlington, Texas, offers plants suitable for local growing conditions and provides examples of growing plants. An espaliered apple tree was just beginning to flower in this photo.
Two years ago we noticed a volunteer Bradford pear tree in the backyard had a natural shape for creating an espalier. This is an ideal chance to practice forming an espalier at no cost. You can see four levels of horizontal branches.
The horizontal branches have grown, and it is time to 1) add more support on both sides of the tree and 2) prune limbs that are growing beyond the espalier shape.
Wire grid galvanized metal panels are more places for creating espalier with Star Jasmine vines.
The open space underneath the deck will be a good spot for storing gardening materials, but we need a design that hides the outdoor water line, wires, and gardening materials.
Star Jasmine grows quickly, smells divine when it blooms, and should hide whatever is under the deck.
The tendrils are easy to wind around the wire grid, and the plant should be easy to prune into shape each year. One drawback is we are at the northernmost zone for Star Jasmine's hardiness.
I grew this plant variety for several years in the past and lost it after heavy pruning coupled with severe winters with extremely low temperatures, ice, and snow for four consecutive years.
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Come back each Friday for more snapshots of French architecture, houses, textiles, metal work, food, woodwork, landscapes... and discover inspiration for creating your very own
French-inspired garden and home.
