Palmette or espalier, two ways to direct the branches
The palmetto apple tree allows you to enjoy the joys of the orchard in a small space. As with an espalier, all the branches are placed in the same plane but point upwards. The shape thus obtained is aesthetic. It can be a single U, a double U or even a triple.
Preformed glass palmetto apple trees are available at garden centers. They are two U’s nested within each other.
Dig a hole and prepare a root ball
Choose an apple tree sold in a pot with a root ball. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and about ten centimeters deeper. Remove the apple tree from the container, cut the root ball with scissors to aerate it and release the overly compacted roots. Then submerge the root ball in a bucket of water.
Prepare the soil and drainage layer
Then prepare a substrate consisting of 50% garden soil, 30% potting soil and 20% hornbeam and manure. Before installing the apple tree, loosen the bottom of the hole with a spade or claw and cover it with a layer of gravel to promote drainage.
Install an apple tree
Then place the apple tree with the moist root ball. Fill the hole with the mixture and keep the trunk straight. Pack the soil and create a watering can about 5cm deep. Install vertical and horizontal stakes, then tie the branches with soft tie and water. Guaranteed to return next spring!