Espalier

If you've been in our backyard, you've probably noticed the apple trees that are growing against our back garage wall. I planted them the first Winter we were in our house, so January 0f 2005. It was the best way to get several fruit trees to fit in our yard without giving up our grass space. Plus, I like the look of espaliered trees. :)

3 months after planting. They weren't much to look at in the begining, just 3 Stick Vs.
17 months after planting (That would be Patrick in the sling at 2 days old helping to water the trees.) The left tree which I believe is a Granny Smith, took off, while the other two were still spindly and bare. Thus began the challenge of trying to train the trees to do what I wanted when the left one clearly wanted to do something other than be part of my lattice plan.
4 1/2 years after planting. The two on the right are starting to catch up finally.

And, here they are today at 5 years:

It's hard to tell in the pictures, but the size of the trunk on the left tree is huge in comparison to the two on the right and their growth patterns are totally different. Originally I planned to do a lattice pattern, but gave up when the trees were not growing at the same rate. Next time around, I'll buy trees of the same variety so I stand a chance of actually finishing my intended design.

This angle shows just how little space they take up. That strip of dirt is about 14" deep and 12 feet long. The trees are spaced about 3 feet apart.

The trees would be covered in apples right now if it weren't for a really cute little boy who claims that hitting the apples off the tree with a baseball bat is not the same as picking them. :)