Essential strategies for espaliering fruit

Here are some questions I encountered at my recent pruning demonstration at the Springs Preserve.

Question: Is espaliering fruit trees hard to do? We have a small yard and want to make it productive.

Answer: No, it isn't hard to do if you grow them horizontally. Apples, pears and plums adapt well to this system, and it's effective in limited areas. Use varieties on dwarfing rootstock to control the size.

Spread a three-wire trellis at 18, 36 and 54 inches up along your wall. Plant trees 6 feet apart. This summer, three or more shoots will develop near the 18-inch wire. Train one shoot up to the next cross wire.

At the first cross wire, train one shoot along the horizontal wire, and the other in the opposite direction from the trunk. They become the main scaffold branches. Using twine, tie these shoots along the wire until they get 5 feet long. Tying helps to induce flower bud formation.

At the end of the first season, you established the lower lateral branches and the central leader has reached the second wire. Next winter, cut the central leader off at a bud just below the second wire. Repeat the process of the previous spring by developing two scaffold branches and allow the central leader to grow above the third wire. Two seasons later, you've developed six scaffolds, three on each side of the trunk firmly established.

By the end of the fourth season, you'll be in full production. Do all pruning each spring. When new growth gets 2 inches long, cut it off and remove one-fourth of the previous season's growth. Leave terminal scaffolds untouched.

Next summer when new growth gets 10 to 12 inches long, tip-prune the shoots to prevent growth from getting out of bounds.

Q: When do I fertilize my fruit trees?

A: Now and again six weeks later. It takes time for plants to pick up nutrients and transport them to their key growing points. The second application assists in the laying down of new fruit buds for the following season. Use a balanced fruit fertilizer to produce vigorous plants and bushels of fruit.

Q: When do I dormant spray fruit trees?

A: Spray plants before they bloom. That's when the bugs are coming out of hibernation. Dormant oils kill overwintering pests such as aphids, scales and mites. Spray it on a calm day by drenching the entire plant.

Q: How do I propagate grapes?

A: It is easy. Select a dozen cuttings from last year's new canes a foot long with two sets of buds on each cutting. Dip the bottom half in rooting powder sold by nurseries and plant in pots filled with sand so the top half is above ground. Keep the pot close to the kitchen to keep an eye on them and keep soil moist until leaves appear and then plant.

Q: Are bare-root fruit trees and roses hard to establish?

A: No, but plant them before Valentine's Day so they can establish themselves before it gets hot. Bare-root plants establish sooner and better than container plants. Soak roots in water overnight. Make the hole large enough to accommodate the roots. Form a soil pyramid in the hole peaking at the surface. Position a plant on top the peak, and spread out the roots. Refill the hole with soil while firming it around the roots.

EARLY SPRING GARDEN FAIR

Learn how to prune trees and plant them, grow berries, keep chickens and can their meat, and have your soil tested at one location. This extravaganza is at 10 a.m. Saturday at Leslie Doyle's Sweet Tomato Test Garden, 5910 Sheila Ave. For additional information, call 490-5217.

MASTER GARDENER TRAINING

Nevada Cooperative Extension will hold an information and registration session for upcoming master gardener classes at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at 8050 Paradise Road. This worthy program is open to all adults who accept the volunteer commitments. You don't need a horticulture background, just an interest in gardening and a desire to share it with the community.

Classes start March 12. For additional information and to register, call 257-5501.

PRUNING ROSES

Prune your roses with confidence. This workshop shows how to prune and maintain your roses for a beautiful showing this season. It is at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and Jan. 22 at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Call 822-7700 for additional information.

Linn Mills' garden column appears on Sundays. He can be reached at linn.mills@ springspreserve.org or (702) 822-7754.