How to Grow Fruit Along a Fence

Choose a fruiting plant suitable for the type of fence you have. Grapes, kiwifruit, melons and many berries -- such as raspberries and blackberries -- grow on vines and may be trained to grow along a trellis, latticework, chain link or other metal mesh fence. Use an espalier technique to train fruit trees along solid fences such as brick, stone or wood panels by placing wire supports, a lattice or a trellis against the fence to support the branches.

Consider the normal width and spread of the plant. Dig the planting holes 6 to 8 inches in front of the fence to give the main stem or trunk room to produce new growth, and space multiple plants far enough apart to keep them from shading one another.

Plant trees 6 to 8 feet apart. Vines may need more space between plants. Separate them by the same distance as their expected width at maturity. For instance, vines with an average spread of 8 feet at maturity should be planted 8 feet apart. If you want the vines to mesh slightly, plant them about a foot closer together.

Use the pruning clippers to cut vines back to a single main stem. Tie the stem loosely to the fence. This will be the upright, main stem. As side shoots appear and become long enough, tie them out to either side of the main stem to encourage lateral growth.

Decide where you want the first two horizontal branches to grow on the fruit tree. Leaving the main stem intact, prune away all horizontal branches except the two you're keeping. Tie those loosely to the fence to encourage lateral growth. To start another set of horizontal branches, cut the main stem down to where you want the second set to grow. Once the new shoots are long enough, tie them to the fence.