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Faced with the need to grow fruit bearing trees within secure castle walls, medieval gardeners called on a technique that is said to go back to ancient times. They trained the trees to grow flat against the walls, giving to this ancient practice a new name taken from the wooden trellis they used to support the trees - espalier.

Today, espalier is enjoying a resurgence, once again offering the opportunity to grow fruit trees within confined spaces. Espalier is the perfect solution for courtyards, small gardens and even high rise apartments. Like bonsai, it requires that the tree grow in a new way. But it also gives the mature tree the ability to produce a bounty of full sized fruit.

Indeed, espalier can enhance the chances of a good yield. The tree receives more sunlight onto fruit bearing branches, and if planted against a wall, can enjoy the retained heat. This means you can grow trees in cooler climates that would not normally thrive there.

Traditionally, apples and pears take best to the technique of espalier, but other fruit bearing trees such as olive, plum, peach and apricot can also be used. As long as the branches are long and flexible enough to train, almost any tree is a candidate for espalier.

There are formal patterns to espalier, which all offer the benefits of this technique. The one you may see more often is the horizontal pattern, where branches are pinned back to the trellis in neat, symmetrical rows. This is an excellent pattern for a broad wall or fence, and allows maximum sunlight to reach the branches.

Trees can also be trained in fan shaped or other more decorative patterns where the space allows this. Espalier is very popular in Europe, where it reached its height in medieval times, and many decorative and complicated patterns evolved from the basic process of tying back and flattening the branches.

To grow your own espaliered fruit trees, you will first need to choose the right site, against a fence or wall, clear of other high growing plants, and receiving full sunlight. A south facing wall or fence is best. The soil needs to be cultivated and well drained - your tree is going to last a long time, so prepare a well nourished bed for it, with no chance of soggy feet.

You will need to fix a support to a wall, but a well constructed fence may offer its own support. Remember that the tree will weigh heavily on a fence, so the fence needs to be sturdy and enduring. If in doubt, erect a trellis to take the weight of the tree.

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