Growing Apples on a Trellis Espalier

Place a fan trellis on a fence or wall exposed to full sun before you plant the apple tree.

Dig a hole for the apple tree 6 inches away from the trellis. Align the planting site with the center of the support. The hole must be 1 foot wider than the tree’s root ball. Adjust the depth until you can position the root crown at the same level as the surface. Firm the bottom to prevent sinking. Plant the apple tree, refill the hole with soil and water it.

Trim the branches off the tree, retaining the trunk only. Decide at what height you want the new lateral branches to develop. Chop the central stem 1/4 inch above the buds positioned at that height. According to the University of Florida Extension, the cutting point should be 15 to 18 inches from the ground.

Cut the apple tree’s branches when its first growing season ends, retaining only the twigs you want to train to grow flat on the fan trellis. Tie them to the trellis with pieces of string. Distribute the stems over the support, opening the crown into a fan shape.

Tie newly sprouted stems to the trellis every season as soon as they are long enough. Trim the ones that do not appear to be in a good position to reach the trellis.

Feed the developing apple tree a 12-4-8 fertilizer at the rate of 1 pound per 100 square feet every three months. The nutrient encourages the wood to grow quickly. Reduce the frequency to once in spring and again in the fall after the branches fill the trellis.

Give your apple tree 1 inch of water weekly. Build a 2-inch-deep mulch ring around the base of the plant to slow water evaporation and suppress weeds. Use compost, wood chips or other organic matter.