Growing fruit trees on trellises
Many gardeners are faced with the problem of a lack of free space on their site. For example, you really want to have your own pear or apple tree, and there is only enough space for 2 greenhouses and several beds. An excellent solution in such a situation would be to grow a fruit tree on a trellis attached to a support. This method was first used by the Belgians and the French..
How to grow a tree on a trellis
When growing trees using the trellis method, they are located on a support in the same plane. The main advantages of this method:
- maximum amount of light;
- reduced risk of disease due to good air circulation;
- more efficient watering compared to a regular fruit tree;
- good productivity;
- suitable for all types of trees and shrubs.
Try to choose small trees that grow slowly and don’t go too high. Be sure to check with the seller what kind of rootstock was used if you buy a seedling in a nursery. The grafting serves as a regulator of the growth of the root system, and also helps to increase the yield. The rootstock can also limit the height of the tree itself. For example, let’s take two apple trees of the same variety. One will reach 9 meters in height, and the growth of the other will stop at 2 meters. This is the influence of the rootstock.
For trellis growing, use rootstock plants that will restrict tree growth to the dwarf or semi-dwarf stage. The formed tree should not exceed 3.5 meters in height.
Shaping the crown
Horizontal cordon
This method is often used for pears, plums and apple trees. The trunk should be one. It will serve as a kind of column. The two main branches are spread apart and tied to the hedge parallel to the ground. The lateral shoots should be grown up to half a meter in length and then trimmed. You can choose their slope, giving the desired shape to objects or shapes. By the way, if there are more trunks, then this is called a “double cordon”.
Fan
The trunk of the plant is shortened to half a meter, and the lateral branches are directed horizontally and diagonally with rays. Additional shoots are formed on them. This is a versatile method that can be applied to any type of tree..
Trellis and palmette
The branches of the tree diverge parallel to the ground in numerous tiers, the distance between which should be about 30 cm. Palmette differs in that the branches diverge upward at an angle of 45 degrees.
Installation and landing
For the location of the future fence, choose places well-lit by the sun. The basis of the structure will be pillars to which wooden strips or wire are attached. The stem of the plant itself is attached to the pillar. Fix the branches in the desired position and fasten on the jumpers.
The requirements for planting seedlings, pit depth, soil composition and irrigation schedule are the same as for conventional trees. Plantings can be planted close to each other, depending on the base frame.
Arrange tree species for best cross-pollination.
An interesting effect is achieved by installing a trellis with a solid wall, to which dwarf trees are planted at such an interval that their grown branches touch, forming a single green hedge. It looks very beautiful, and the fruits growing on it give such a building even more charm..
The variety of shapes and angles at which the frame branches will go is limited only by your imagination.
Pruning
Pruning fruit trees is the most important part of the whole process. It is necessary to maintain the shape of the crown, prevent disease and prevent excessive growth of shoots. Young trees should be pruned once a year in early spring. The exceptions are cherries and plums, which are best pruned in late spring – early summer..
When fruiting begins, start summer pruning. It is necessary so that the tree does not waste resources on actively growing leaves, but gives them entirely for the production of fruits. Try to cut off the shoots as short as possible, and remove diseased and dried branches completely.
In addition to pruning the branches, you should also thin out the fruit. Yes, this will somewhat reduce the amount of yield at the output, but it will help to improve the taste of the remaining fruits..
The trellis method of growing fruit trees is easy to implement, saves space and transforms the garden beyond recognition. Place the trellis on the wall of the old barn and plant the cherries. An unsightly structure will turn into a beautiful object. 
The same can be done with the wall of a house or garage, or you can create a small labyrinth of green walls in the yard, on which flowers will grow in the spring, and your children can play there from morning to evening..
