For aesthestic purposes I want to espalier a couple of olive trees on a three foot high, southern exposed wall where summer temperatures get over 100, and winters dip into the 20's. What are my chances of success? Any problems I need to be aware of? If it just isn't a good idea, what might be a good substitute? Thanks and happy gardening. Patrick
Wow ... that sounds interesting! I know espalier is done with some fruit trees etc so why not an olive?
The heat wouldn't be a problem but that sounds pretty cold for an olive. Are there healthy olives growing in the neighborhood? Some varieties are hardier then others so I would get those, If there is a good local nursery they could give you advice. Doing an espalier shouldn't be hard. One problem might be frost cracks in the bark that happen when the sun hits the frozen bark and warms it up too quickly. Painting the trunk white with a plant-friendly paint or wrapping it [you can buy tree wrap] can prevent that.
Sounds like a plan to me.....simple answer would be, try one and see what happens, nothing ventured, nothing gained.....not sure how many plants i have killed using that philosophy....ok yes i do, 1 small blue hesper palm, 1 agave 1..... what with frost and rabbits (i have the biggest, most well fed wild rabbits) *wonders why i dont give up* its the successes that make it worth while.
I read that olives trees are actually espaliered for commercial purposes. My hope is to be able to grow it much smaller in kind of a bonsai fashion, up to a few feet in height. Hopefully you're right,--why not an olive?
The cold isn't a problem here. Olive trees are grown all around the area. I even have one in my front court yard which is the reason I want to espalier a couple of them on the streetside face of the courtyard wall, so that the consistency and balance make some sense. I have, in fact asked some of the local nursery people to no avail.
You're right. Why not do the simple thing and try? That's it. I'm going to the nursery tomorrow and getting a couple olive trees. I'm even a step ahead because there are no rabbit problems or any other worrisome critters here. Thanks (with fingers crossed). I like your philosophy.
Here's more encouraging feedback, Patrick. A pruning book I was flipping through said an olive tree can be trained as a fan against a wall. I see espalier as a compressed fan. If you can, post a picture in this thread of your trees in the fall and tell us how it went.
I have a small 7 foot Olive tree (Olea europea 'Arbequina') in my front garden. I think these cultivars are quite hardy by Olive standards. It's been a fairly fast grower which has suprized me.
Olives have been espaliered for easier hand picking and hedgerow trellised for machine picking for a while now. The hard part is not trying to espalier Olives in Stockton, the problem will be how to keep the trees scaled down in size without a lot of hands on pinching and trimming. I believe you will want to select either a natural semi-dwarf or look for some Olives grafted onto dwarfing rootstock. If you do not want a fruiting Olive you may want to look for some information regarding Olive Stop and the likes. Jim
Thanks for the reply, Jim. Your input and all of the others (see especially Junglekeeper above) are all giving me the confidence I need to go ahead and try my best. Hopefully I will be able to post the living proof of all of your efforts. I don't mind, at least I say that now, the rigors of having to pinch back a little more than normal for espaliers. Wish me luck. Patrick
I would suggest you look towards getting your plants from a grower nursery. If it were me I'd go with some of the oil producing varieties mentioned in this link. The hard part will be in the training of the tree to grow into an espalier attached to a wall. It is easier to train and an Olive to a trellis but either way is doable. It just takes initiative, time and patience but the reward may very well be worth your trouble. I believe the 'Arbequina' is a natural semi-dwarf so you may want to look for one of these if you can find one. If a local nursery cannot help you find a source for a fruiting Olive as opposed to an ornamental Olive then come back in and tell me and I'll put you in touch with some grower nurseries near you, close enough to you, through a private message that may still have some Olives available for retail sales. California Olive Oil Industry Survey Statistics 2004 Jim