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[Melody Oliphant <merriemelody39 AT gmail.com>]

Just popping in to say "hi" :) and that I'm here as a lurker.

Have a great day!
Melody

On Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 2:33 PM, Lisa Kae Van Meter Perry <
lisakvperry AT gmail.com> wrote:

> On Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 4:32 PM, Lisa Kae Van Meter Perry <
> lisakvperry AT gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 3:40 PM, Lynda <lurine AT com-pair.net> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> We are looking at espaliering fruit trees so we can get more in a
> smaller
> >> space.
> >>
> >
> > Lynda,
> >
> > We have these and they are a pain in rear. Require LOTS of pruning. From
> > our limited experience, the Asian pears are doing the best of all the
> > espaliered
> > apples & pears that we have. The other trees don't produce enough to
> > warrant
> > the amount of effort put into them--but maybe you'll have a better
> > experience.
> >
> >>
> >> > The lot has a big, totally overgrown apple tree that produced lots of
> >> > fruit this year. I will be rather severely pruning it this winter. The
> >> big
> >> > grapevine has grown right into it, so that needs serious cutting back,
> >> as
> >> > well.
> >>
> >
> > This was for RAy.
>
>
> > Consider talking to an Ag Extension person about this tree. Have them out
> > to your place, they are usually happy to make an appointment and it's
> free.
> >
> > We learned that it's really hard on a tree to severely prune it. Better
> to
> > make
> > a series of cuts over a few years to give the tree time to recover in
> > between.
> > Also, it's very important for the long-term health of the tree to make
> > sure you
> > make proper collar cuts otherwise in as few as three years you could lose
> > an entire limb to rot or make it more susceptible to bark beetles (which
> > will
> > kill it, too).
> >
> >> >
> >> > There is a peach tree, as well, but no fruit was on it. We did have a
> >> late
> >> > frost last spring, so that may have done it in.
> >>
> >
> > That could do it, but some peach trees are finicky. Also peach trees
> don't
> > bear fruit past 20-25 years of age.
> >
> >> >
> >> > I am planning on 3 additional peach trees, 2 apricot, 2 cherry, 2
> plum,
> >> > and 3 more apple trees. Maybe a pear or two, as well...
> >> >
> >> > a small orchard, but tending fruit trees does not require as much
> >> bending
> >> > and kneeling...   ;-)
> >>
> >
> > This is pretty much what we're planning on at our new place (when we have
> > it). We're thinking much less--less to prune, less fruit to thin early in
> > the spring,
> > less spraying, less picking, harvesting, and processing--but still enough
> > to eat.
> > We want apple, cherry, peach & pears.
> >
> > Lisa
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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