Editing Espalier (section)

{{Short description|Pruning/tying branches to flat structure}}
[[File:Horizontal espalier.JPG|right|thumb|A horizontal espalier]]
[[File:Espalier fruit tree at Standen, West Sussex, England May 2006.JPG|right|thumb|Free-standing espaliered fruit trees (step-over) at [[Standen]], [[West Sussex]]. The trees are used to create a fruit border or low [[Hedge (barrier)|hedge]].]]
'''Espalier''' ({{IPAc-en|ᵻ|ˈ|s|p|æ|l|ɪər}} or {{IPAc-en|ᵻ|ˈ|s|p|æ|l|i|.|eɪ}}) is the [[horticulture|horticultural]] and ancient [[Agriculture|agricultural]] practice of controlling woody plant growth for the production of fruit, by [[pruning]] and tying branches to a frame. Plants are frequently shaped in formal patterns, flat against a structure such as a wall, [[fence]], or [[Trellis (architecture)|trellis]], and also plants which have been shaped in this way.<ref name=NCSU>{{Citation| last =Evans| first =Erv| title =Espalier| publisher =North Carolina State University Horticultural Science Department Cooperative Extension Service| url =http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/quickref/general/espalier.html| access-date =2010-06-29| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100708131917/http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/quickref/general/espalier.html| archive-date =2010-07-08| url-status =dead}}</ref>

Espaliers, trained into flat two-dimensional forms, are used not only for decorative purposes, but also for gardens in which space is limited. In a [[temperate climate]], espaliers may be trained next to a wall that can reflect more sunlight and retain heat overnight or oriented so that they absorb maximum sunlight by training them parallel to the equator. These two strategies allow the [[Season extension|season to be extended]] so that fruit has more time to mature.

A restricted form of training consists of a central stem and a number of paired horizontal branches all trained in the same plane. The most important advantage is that of being able to increase the growth of a branch by training it vertically. Later, one can decrease growth while increasing fruit production by training it horizontally.