The espalier orchard gets a new look
You may recall a blog from last April, when Shaun, my gardener, took it upon himself to prune my espalier apple orchard, which had gone untended. Shaun is a great pruner and transformed the trees beautifully. In early July, he said it was time to prune the grove again. The fruit was well established and all the sucker growth, which does not produce fruit, needed to be removed. Shaun wanted the energy of the tree to go to the main apple producing branches. I love how he is shaping the rows of espalier into angled box-like structures. Over time, this little orchard should be quite lovely.
1 In early July, the grove of espalier apple trees needed a good pruning.
2 Here is Shaun deciding which branches to snip.
3 Shaun is removing the sucker growth - the long shoots which do not bear apples.
4 By removing the sucker growth, energy is sent into the main apple producing branches.
5 A pair of good, sharp secateurs is required to make a clean cut.
6 As you can see, Shaun has removed considerable growth.
7 Removing the excess growth also helps to expose the ripening fruit to the sun.
8 A nicely formed apple
9 More apples
10 As you can see, quite a bit was pruned off. If you look closely, you can see that Shaun shaped the branches so that they are wider at the bottom, tapering towards the top. This is so sunlight can reach the lower branches easily.
11 More beautiful apples
12 And more
13 The finished pruning - very trim and neat
Photos By Eliad Laskin
What an beautiful orchard!
Posted by: Marie {Make and Takes} | September 8th, 2009 at 12:52 am
Was interested in knowing what varities you picked to grow by espalier method. Do you have a problem with the deer? What type of grass do you have at the base the trees?
Thank you.
Pauline Mucciaccio
Posted by: Pauline | September 8th, 2009 at 6:56 am
My family doesn't let me cut their hair - but my plants never complain when I wield my scissors. They look so nice after a good pruning. I only wish they produced apples, like yours!
Posted by: Lynn from For Love or Funny | September 8th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Unbelievably jealous of this orchard! So beautiful before and after pruning!
Posted by: The Blushing Hostess | September 8th, 2009 at 8:26 am
I wonder what the gray-green grass or perennial is that the rows are under planted with? As always - you make a utilitarian garden space into a lovely work of art!
Posted by: Karen Knight | September 8th, 2009 at 8:28 am
I love apples...here in Georgia we are getting ready for apple season. I can't wait!
Posted by: Dewberry | September 8th, 2009 at 10:42 am
For Karen and Pauline - the espalier orchard is underplanted with blue carex - also called blue sedge. My farm is surrounded with deer fencing so usually, they are not a problem. The orchard is planted with many different varieties of apples.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | September 8th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I adore your espaliered apple orchard. What a lovely job Shaun did with the pruning! Now be sure to eat an apple a day...
Ha...a beautiful stellar blue jay just landed on my hedge...doesn't he look smart and ready for a day of flying around!
Posted by: sherey | September 8th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Martha,
Your mini orchards is beautiful. I wonder what you will be making with all of these wonderful apples. It is always interesting seeing your talented staff at work helping you make more wonderful good things to share. Keep up the good work. I don't know where you find the time to come up with these very informative posts. Makes one want to go shopping and buy more Martha products to support all that you do. All the new Halloween products at Michael's are wonderful and spooky. I was a bit surprised at the 5.99 price tag for the mini gliter-yourself pumpkins ornaments. Each one was that much. Perhaps it was a mistake.
Posted by: chad | September 8th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
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Hello Martha Stewart Swinging into Another September!
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Love your whimsical path at the bottom right corner of photo thirteen! Now where's the Velveteen Rabbit!
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Posted by: http://andyjspencer.blogspot.com/ | September 8th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
The mind simply says what the heart feels.
Thump thump thump as the blood congeals.
Anxious thoughts that force eyes to tears
Spent nerves that fail if the world jeers
Just face the crowd and state your case.
Must treat adversity at a different pace
There's no room for the heart in business
The brain is in command of this craziness.
Business is business, goods, service for money
A bee goes about its business reward is honey.
And so the world turneth,a never ending ride
Sugar coating on the periphery, a bit on the side.
Are we all only filling in time 'til the final act?
Do we want recorded in history is that the fact?
To what end or what lengths would we ever go
To serve this master, sadly do we really know?
The connection between consciousness and the mind.
Ability to think, understand, reason, not fall behind.
Being frank, aware, interpreting correctly the observed
Continually processing the facts, yet remaining nerved.
Do not invite hurry sickness to achieve great success.
To not indulge in intellectual egotism, to never digress;
Never underestimate the competition, ever at any time.
The perfect approach to business and it didn't cost a dime.
Keep Smiling 0_____________0
Posted by: celia stock | September 8th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I have never seen a more beautiful orchard. Kudos to Shaun. Please let us know if the apples are tasty. Trish
Posted by: Trish | September 8th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I remember the blog, & I can't believe it was last April; that went by fast! How beautiful the orchard looks, can't wait to see it next year.
Posted by: Sherry | September 8th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
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From pretty apple fields to the hookings of business, I read from this blog of INspection and inTROspection!
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From the face on this head
Comes bales of words.
"Run mouther, run mouther,
Chew apples, cook curds!"
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Bring plum pie
To Muffet's tuffet on high.
Face clickity clacking
And paperweight smacking.
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Word artist, paint artist, dance artist twirl!
No ones eyes lifting, shhh, appraising a pearl.
-----------
At midnight I'm wondering,
Sipping applesauce curry,
What goodness to Heavens was all the brush
Hurry.
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I know the good youee & the silly I eye
Both love apples & hay bales and fish on the
Fry.
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But Persona takes Person now & then fly and by.
They go Packaged as prOduct. No time to say HI.
.
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Lovely lost. Turn the sheets down. Put the foot On the brakes.
Cover up, buried sleepless in styro
Foam bubbleee flakes.
.....
From both sides of the coin, now favoring the apple, not the sauce.....
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Andr..and Weims
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Posted by: http://andyjspencer.blogspot.com/ | September 8th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Hi Martha, What a fabulous lesson provided by you and Shaun! Your farm is the first place I would love to visit if I ever come to New York. I love everything about it. Shaun is a fantastic gardner. Comparing the first and the last photo is by far the best gardening I have seen since you used to do it on your old TV show. Where did he learn all of these skills? He is an exceptionally talented guy! Kudos to Shaun and you for this great blog! Keep it coming! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | September 8th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
i have to confess, i'm quite jealous of the amount of apples your trees are bearing. we have 3 big old apple trees that usually produce more than i know what do with. this spring a hail storm hit us right when the trees were blooming, so we are only getting approx 60 apples among the 3 trees. that's enough for a few apple pies but not for the amount apple sauce i was hoping to make. well, i'm hoping next spring will be warmer...
Posted by: liisamarja | September 9th, 2009 at 3:49 am
Love your apple orchard. I am looking forward to the crop of apples that will hit the supermarkets. Just bought more peaches. The season of peaches is coming to a close. Cleaned, chopped and froze ziploc bags full of fresh peaches for the winter. Come December, I will have summer peaches for a crisp or oatmeal.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | September 9th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Hi Martha,
I'm getting on in years and have semi-retired so now I can catch your show once in awhile. I've enjoyed it as long as you have been on but usually only when I was home from work sick!
I LOVE your blog and am happy that you encouraged viewing it during your show. I never dreamed I'd get to comment!
Thanks for all you have done for the art of "home making".
Sincerly,
Judy
Posted by: Judy Riggins | September 9th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Looks glorious. I love trained fruit trees, so Victorian
Posted by: Sophie | September 9th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
The end-product of your espaliered orchard is superb, Martha - so neat and tidy, which is what I like! All the sweat-in-the-eyes moments and the muchly needed cast-iron-hinged-back are sooo worth it, when you get to stand back, then, and survey your own handiwork! I just bask in it, and take it all in when everything (at my humble abode) is edged, and trimmed, and dead-headed while all-the-while still blooming beautifully amongst an Ireland-green backdrop sustained from precious summer rainfall! THAT is MY soul-food which never makes me full.
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I personally noticed the orchard in some mid/late summer photos of some goings-on there at your farm and tho't it was coming along nicely. Do keep us posted on its progress, as it IS one (of several) favorite focal points there in your general overall 'gardens'! (Oh!...in which bed is that very large birdbath gracing?...I haven't seen that yet this summer! I WANT it! [giggle] )
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=^..^=
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"The only limit to your garden is at the boundaries of your imagination."--Thomas D Church
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | September 9th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Hi Martha - just a quick comment on the cover of your Halloween Issue...you look so fantastic along with your beautiful horse!!
You always out due yourself every year!
Can't wait for your new season to start!!
Posted by: Suzanne Morelli | September 9th, 2009 at 6:46 pm