If You Run Out Of Room For Fruit Trees – Master Gardner: Dennis Adamson
By Alan on Sep 17 in Blog tagged bread, Dennis Adamson, fruit trees, jam, Master Gardener, plums, run out of room, solution, velcro | Comments Off
If You Run Out Of Room For Fruit Trees
Master Gardner: Dennis Adamson
I ran out of room for fruit trees some time ago. I had 2 compost containers built out of railroad ties, 3 high. I had been moving the compost from one enclosure to the other and then tilling and watering the compost as I moved it from pile to pile. Long ago I decided that it was much easier to buy a cubic yard of compost, at a relatively cheap price, at a nearby waste disposal plant. I turned these areas into raised garden beds. The fence behind these faced east, but because of the height of my raised bed there is also afternoon sun from the west. I still wanted to utilize the space in the beds, but also wanted to plant some fruit trees. I thought back to when we lived in Virginia where we visited colonial homes and cities. I noticed the use of espalier for some of their fruit trees, especially at Mt. Vernon.
Espalier (ess-PAL-yer or yay) is the practice of controlling the growth of the tree so that it grows relatively flat or 2 dimensionally against a fence, path, trellis or wall. Most of us are very familiar with this practice in the growing of grapes. (Photo espaliered grape vine) At first the name just applied to the framework to grow the plant on, but has also become the name for both the plant and the technique.
I decided to try to do some research first and went to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espalier
They had a long list of trees, shrubs and vines that have been traditionally espaliered. I decided on the Santa Rosa Plum. Some of the reasons for picking this type is that it is generally an easy to grow and is a popular plum tree. You can find it in semi-dwarf or dwarf varieties. It is also self-fertile, meaning that it doesn’t need a companion tree for pollination.
I also did research on the various espalier forms. I found an excellent pdf article from Flemings Nursery that showed the various forms in diagram and also how to train your plant to this form:
http://www.flemings.com.au/documents/espalier.pdf
I then went about constructing my framework using treated lumber posts that I attached to my railroad tie raised beds. From the posts I bolted in eyehooks that I could attach turnbuckles to. I then stretched 14-gauge wire between the turnbuckles and turned them to make the wires taught. 
I was now ready to purchase and plant my trees. The following YouTube video shows the technique nicely, though it is slightly different than mine where I attached a turnbuckle to the eyehook. Either system, as well as others will work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2qb25W7c2Y
I went to a local nursery and purchased a plum tree that was already growing in nearly a flat plane and planted it so the trunk and main branches were just in front of the wire. I had previously found that a fan shape was a good design for plum trees, so that is the form that I used. I then pruned the trees and attached the limbs to the wires. 
I use Velcro garden tape instead of stretchy garden tape since it can be easily moved and utilized again in another area.
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An excellent video on initial pruning and attachment to the wire is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRU-mlKwXNw
Two techniques of growing espalier against a brick wall are found at:
http://www.sunset.com/garden/waires-wall-espalier-00400000039538/
http://deepgreenpermaculture.com/diy-instructions/espalier-supporttrellis/
It will take a couple of years for the trees to mature enough to produce fruit. 
The fruit that forms during the early years should be removed to allow the strength of growth to go to the woody portion. You will also need to prune the tree each year to maintain the form that you want and to train the new growth.
This last summer we got 16 lbs. of plums off of one tree. 
My wife was able to get 4 batches of plum jam out of it. 
This year I planted a Red Haven dwarf peach tree to try to espalier it.
Since fall is the second best time for planting trees, you might want to consider trying to plant and start espaliering a fruit or ornamental tree.
And now for a nice slice of bread, butter and plum jam, yum! 
Matthew 7: 17 “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;”
Dennis Adamson
Master Gardener
For The Family
TOOTHACHE!
By Alan on May 18 in Daily Inspiration tagged Clove, doterra, Essential Oil, Melaleuca, pain, purify, root of tooth, solution, toothache | Comments Off
Toothache or tooth pain is caused when the nerve root of a tooth is irritated. Dental (tooth) infection, decay, injury, or loss of a tooth are the most common causes of dental pain.
Pain may also occur after an extraction (tooth is pulled out). Pain sometimes originates from other areas and radiates to the jaw, thus appearing to be tooth pain. The most common areas include the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint or TMJ), ear pain, and even occasional heart problems.
There are NATURAL SOLUTIONS!
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.
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CLOVE MELALEUCA & PURIFY
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Apply oils to gums OR add to water and gargle and swallow!
With Which Other Health Issue Do You Struggle?
A to Z – ESSENTIAL OIL USAGE GUIDE:
(Example: CLICK “A” for ASTHMA, etc.)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U VW X Y Z
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