I never knew this was a thing... Thanks for sharing I would like to see an update on what a tree like this will turn into. This concept is fascinating to a non arborist. Keep it up Glenn!
Blair, when I was younger, I was visiting family, here in Mesa. One of my cousins took me to the local LDS Temple. In the garden area, in front of the Temple, there was a tree, called The Tree of Life. A citrus that had grapefruit, lemons, oranges, blood oranges, and, I think limes. In the "winter," that tree looked GREAT, with all the different fruit on it. That was in the late '70's, don't know if that tree is still around. My brother has a tree in his back yard, with 2 different citrus fruits on it. Blood oranges are the best! steve
Yes the message of how much work needs to go into multi-grafted trees needs to get out there. Hopefully though it will get people to spend a little more time outside, if anything. Espalier is not my cup of tea. I prefer to get a good harvest, so a delayed central leader, or open central, presents a good challenge to work with on a multi- grafted tree. These smaller semi-dwarf trees that are grafted most, I think make great specimens for people to learn how to prune. Also isn’t it wiser to learn to prune the small before you try to prune the big & tall? Thanks for the video!
So great to have an arborist's view on this. I tried to graft my own tree this year -- it took, but then died when it got really hot during the summer. I gave it regular water but I think when I try it again I'll have to put up a shade cloth or something. I didn't have my tree in a pot, I basically grafted it to a rootstock that I'd bought and planted it all in one. I guess I basically just have a crabapple tree now, or I need to try again with a bud grafting. I like the idea of having some kind of frankentree, but it seems like it'd be really difficult to keep it in an espalier shape for sure.
Nice vid Blair. Multi grafted trees can be great but there is the pruning commitment there and a bit of knowledge/understanding required. I multi-graft most of my fruit trees for an extended season without having to grow 3 of everything (mostly subtropicals and tropicals).
Interesting video! My grandfather often grafted different varieties of apples he aquired from various places on the existing standard trees he had in the orchard. (Our family was in the apple business) He did it for a bit of fun and to experiment, plus the big standard trees never had any issues. ... But the tree in this video that is most likely on dwarf or semi dwarf root stock with some odd looking structural grafts, would definately need almost bonzai tree type meticulous care with trellising to prevent it from self destructing or turning into a bushy mess.
You could go on with the information that you have about graft trees, but you kept it simple into the point. In Palo Alto there are about 30 of these and people have them planted pretty close to their front door. As to walk by them daily. You said well when people do not understand the maintenance of these trees need and of course the ones that I am aware of walk by them daily and understand that the hobby part of checking their multi grafted fruit tree is a long term hobby not just one season. The idea or concept is pretty cool though. Great share ! Joe
I bought a 5 in 1 apple tree but all the grafts are upwards and all are the same thickness and size thank goodness. Either way i know its going to require lots of love.
BlairGlen, I now have unfortunately had to experience what you experienced a few days ago. The Cameron Peak fire exploded and got to within 4 miles of Loveland, Co. pop. 78,000. I didn't have to evacuate, but I was loaded up. Fortunately now the danger is over for now. I didn't mind unloading, it was a good drill. I never want to have to do this again.
Thank you again, Blair. Some pretty intelligent comments to add to your brilliant video. But mine is just as a non-arborist. I’ve always loved the word Espaliér. I’ve just looked it up, and according to one source it is a French word derived from the Italian ‘spalliera’, meaning "something to rest the shoulder (spalla) against." What a relaxing image! I can imagine a gardener (or Tree Surgeon/Arborist!) at the end of a hard day with his arms and shoulders over a gate, surveying his labours with pride. There are some particularly fine examples in ‘National Trust’ properties here in the UK, which have clearly been tended very carefully and knowledgeably by professional gardeners over many years. They are almost always in lovely brick-walled gardens, carefully trained along wires.
Great comment, thanks. I have spent a fair bit of time in England and have seen a lot of your estate properties, castles, and parklands. In Sherwood Forest, I saw the “Major Oak” with all it’s supports. Wonder if it is still there? Also spent a fair bit of time at Kew Gardens in London. Father in Law was a Beefeater at the Tower so we stayed there many times before he retired.
Blair, Do look me up next time you're over. I'll drive you round some of the South of England's delights. nigelwylie01atgmaildotcom (if you get my drift).
If they are serious, I would definitely recommend a metal trellis / framework that’s built wide enough to support many years worth of growth. Thus avoiding the hassle of enlarging it down the road. A wooden frame will weaken and rot out in sections too quickly and it will be a real chore to repair it with the stiff matured branches do deal with.
I wonder if they were grafted at 120* apart, that would prevent the top branches shading out the bottom branches? Granted then you would have a 3 dimensional tree taking up more room in your yard instead of the 2D trellis style.
Blair what happens when that greenhouse grown tree is time warped ahead in the season? Will the fruit just either wither in place or ripen later? and then will it just adapt to the regular seasonal cycle?
@@arboristBlairGlenn Time to hit the books I see. I don't rememer Dr S addressing paint. But he did speak of nasty solar effects. And some of that smooth apple bark is quite exposed. Will be back.
Maybe that apple tree will be a friend of yours in the future @Blair. I can see it now. @arboristBlairGlenn visits his new apple tree friend, two or three times a year for the next 30 years. :-)
It is in a clients yard so follow up is difficult but yes, these multi-grafts can produce some fruit but the dominate species generally overwhelms the tree. I don’t recommend them.
For several years I have been pruning the same four-variety pear. The owner and I have discussed a few times the benefits of pruning fruit trees. Her tree has always been a good producer. It is vigorous. But this year she sent me a text message not to prune. Just spray for fireblight as usual, that she didn't want to "lose production." I am supposing her tree will do alright for a season -- maybe two. But I expect the tree to get all intertwined and gnarly. We will see how it goes. Any thoughts out tere? Due to experience...
I think it’s fine to allow a fruit tree to go a season without pruning if it was maintained before. Problem with most fruit trees is have they are developed to produce heavier crops than the structure can support. Might consider looking at the tree in another 6weeks or so to determine if you need to thin the fruit.
@@arboristBlairGlenn Hi Blair! And thank you! It's interesting that the answer to the multi-variety pear in question is the opposite of what the owner thought was going to happen. Trying to increase production but having to thin the fruit for the tree's own good. This tree has needed fruit thinning before. So I expect it to bear quite heavily at the beginning. And if the tree looses a branch in the right place, she could loose a whole variety out of the four. That would defeat the purpose of the multi grafting. This should be an interesting talk with the owner! Thanks for the help. M. D.
Ok now I’m worried! I h/b a passionate gardener my whole life but now downsized so I am gardening with pots & grow bags. Today I found a 4 in 1 espaliered appl tree in a 7 gal pot ($172) at my local nursery & I planned on buying it in the morning. Altho I was very excited now I am not so sure. I love to fuss & my patios are perfect BUT what if one graft dies? Will I have a 3 legged tree? HELP!
I. Often see failures of the grafts in these multi graft trees. I hear often “I spent so much and this is all that is left”. I have seen large trees get grafts that took adding to the assortment. Sorry. Try it but maintaining an espaliered tree is also a challenge. I have some videos on that.
@@arboristBlairGlenn I am grateful I found you, thx. Since my husband doesn’t eat apples I think I will do a few more dwarf citrus or another cherry. I rarely have a plant die on me b/c I am retired & fuss over ev leaf/flower etc. BUT it will bother me if something happens to 1 graft & the tree becomes lopsided. I was sold on the idea of it being trained so narrow as my upper patio has south facing sun with a large retractable screen & when its up 1 foot I get a strip of sun from noon on. Grateful in zone 9 ❤️
@@arboristBlairGlenn I decided to buy a semi-dwarf Santa Rosa plum which I love. It’s a vigorous grower so I will keep it pruned to 6ft as we go along so the center branches are sturdy enough to hold fruit. They said it was 5 yrs old & in 5 gal so will transplant to a 10 gal which should hold for few years. The arborist who helped me pruned all of last years growth off the height so lower branches will grow sturdier. So much fun I barely sleep at night with so much in bloom. (I have 5 diff varieties of Hydrangeas on my morning sun patio & ea one is a diff color as I am fussing with the PH both naturally with coffee grinds/citrus peel & egg shells/ baking soda) ❤️
I never knew this was a thing... Thanks for sharing I would like to see an update on what a tree like this will turn into. This concept is fascinating to a non arborist. Keep it up Glenn!
Particularly great blend of arboricultural and human wisdom in this one Glenn! Thanks for sharing 👍
Thank you, glad you liked this.
Nice, Blair.
I'd like to see an update next year too.
Blair, when I was younger, I was visiting
family, here in Mesa. One of my cousins
took me to the local LDS Temple. In the
garden area, in front of the Temple, there
was a tree, called The Tree of Life. A citrus
that had grapefruit, lemons, oranges, blood
oranges, and, I think limes. In the "winter,"
that tree looked GREAT, with all the different
fruit on it.
That was in the late '70's, don't know if that
tree is still around.
My brother has a tree in his back yard, with
2 different citrus fruits on it. Blood oranges
are the best!
steve
Sounds like you should contact the temple and ask them. Thanks for the story.
The first fruit of Mormonism is the Mountain Meadow Massacre. Heck of a story.
@@happyraccoon4791 off topic? Does this deal with trees?
Yes the message of how much work needs to go into multi-grafted trees needs to get out there. Hopefully though it will get people to spend a little more time outside, if anything. Espalier is not my cup of tea. I prefer to get a good harvest, so a delayed central leader, or open central, presents a good challenge to work with on a multi- grafted tree. These smaller semi-dwarf trees that are grafted most, I think make great specimens for people to learn how to prune. Also isn’t it wiser to learn to prune the small before you try to prune the big & tall?
Thanks for the video!
So great to have an arborist's view on this. I tried to graft my own tree this year -- it took, but then died when it got really hot during the summer. I gave it regular water but I think when I try it again I'll have to put up a shade cloth or something. I didn't have my tree in a pot, I basically grafted it to a rootstock that I'd bought and planted it all in one. I guess I basically just have a crabapple tree now, or I need to try again with a bud grafting. I like the idea of having some kind of frankentree, but it seems like it'd be really difficult to keep it in an espalier shape for sure.
Thanks for contributing. Good info
Nice vid Blair. Multi grafted trees can be great but there is the pruning commitment there and a bit of knowledge/understanding required. I multi-graft most of my fruit trees for an extended season without having to grow 3 of everything (mostly subtropicals and tropicals).
I like the name “Practical Primate”. Thanks for commenting and adding to the discussion.
Interesting video!
My grandfather often grafted different varieties of apples he aquired from various places on the existing standard trees he had in the orchard. (Our family was in the apple business)
He did it for a bit of fun and to experiment, plus the big standard trees never had any issues. ... But the tree in this video that is most likely on dwarf or semi dwarf root stock with some odd looking structural grafts, would definately need almost bonzai tree type meticulous care with trellising to prevent it from self destructing or turning into a bushy mess.
Are you still part of the Apple business? Agreed on the future of this tree. If it survives, I will be amazed. The client has no clue.
You could go on with the information that you have about graft trees, but you kept it simple into the point. In Palo Alto there are about 30 of these and people have them planted pretty close to their front door. As to walk by them daily. You said well when people do not understand the maintenance of these trees need and of course the ones that I am aware of walk by them daily and understand that the hobby part of checking their multi grafted fruit tree is a long term hobby not just one season. The idea or concept is pretty cool though. Great share ! Joe
Thanks Joe, sometimes, I get an estate job with a well managed espalier, they are pretty cool.
I bought a 5 in 1 apple tree but all the grafts are upwards and all are the same thickness and size thank goodness. Either way i know its going to require lots of love.
BlairGlen, I now have unfortunately had to experience what you experienced a few days ago. The Cameron Peak fire exploded and got to within 4 miles of Loveland, Co. pop. 78,000. I didn't have to evacuate, but I was loaded up. Fortunately now the danger is over for now. I didn't mind unloading, it was a good drill. I never want to have to do this again.
What an interesting tree! It would be nice to see how it's growing a year from now.
I do wonder if all 6 varieties will survive.
I have my doubts but I will follow it.
Thank you again, Blair. Some pretty intelligent comments to add to your brilliant video. But mine is just as a non-arborist. I’ve always loved the word Espaliér. I’ve just looked it up, and according to one source it is a French word derived from the Italian ‘spalliera’, meaning "something to rest the shoulder (spalla) against." What a relaxing image! I can imagine a gardener (or Tree Surgeon/Arborist!) at the end of a hard day with his arms and shoulders over a gate, surveying his labours with pride.
There are some particularly fine examples in ‘National Trust’ properties here in the UK, which have clearly been tended very carefully and knowledgeably by professional gardeners over many years. They are almost always in lovely brick-walled gardens, carefully trained along wires.
Great comment, thanks. I have spent a fair bit of time in England and have seen a lot of your estate properties, castles, and parklands. In Sherwood Forest, I saw the “Major Oak” with all it’s supports. Wonder if it is still there?
Also spent a fair bit of time at Kew Gardens in London. Father in Law was a Beefeater at the Tower so we stayed there many times before he retired.
Blair, Do look me up next time you're over. I'll drive you round some of the South of England's delights. nigelwylie01atgmaildotcom (if you get my drift).
@@nigelwylie01 like a pub crawl?😊
Ha Ha! Sure know some good ones!
If they are serious, I would definitely recommend a metal trellis / framework that’s built wide enough to support many years worth of growth. Thus avoiding the hassle of enlarging it down the road. A wooden frame will weaken and rot out in sections too quickly and it will be a real chore to repair it with the stiff matured branches do deal with.
Would the flowers be different as well?
I wonder if they were grafted at 120* apart, that would prevent the top branches shading out the bottom branches? Granted then you would have a 3 dimensional tree taking up more room in your yard instead of the 2D trellis style.
Different graft styles for sure
I am doing the same, but with mango tree.
Blair what happens when that greenhouse grown tree is time warped ahead in the season? Will the fruit just either wither in place or ripen later? and then will it just adapt to the regular seasonal cycle?
Good question. Time will tell. I’m not sure it came from a greenhouse, just a guess. Will wait and see.
Blair, how about some white latex paint on the exposed, at-risk bark?
What would Shigo say?
@@arboristBlairGlenn
Time to hit the books I see. I don't rememer Dr S addressing paint. But he did speak of nasty solar effects. And some of that smooth apple bark is quite exposed.
Will be back.
How you make the lower trees grow to balance witt the top
You mean the lower limbs?
In a situation like this should I pollinate from a different tree anyways?
Yes and yes
Maybe that apple tree will be a friend of yours in the future @Blair.
I can see it now.
@arboristBlairGlenn visits his new apple tree friend, two or three times a year for the next 30 years. :-)
Did it bear fruits 🍎 🍏 at all? Please answer. Thanks.
It is in a clients yard so follow up is difficult but yes, these multi-grafts can produce some fruit but the dominate species generally overwhelms the tree. I don’t recommend them.
Update?
Any update on the tree? Curious to what happened to it
I only get update when I’m called back out to do more work
For several years I have been pruning the same four-variety pear. The owner and I have discussed a few times the benefits of pruning fruit trees. Her tree has always been a good producer. It is vigorous. But this year she sent me a text message not to prune. Just spray for fireblight as usual, that she didn't want to "lose production." I am supposing her tree will do alright for a season -- maybe two. But I expect the tree to get all intertwined and gnarly. We will see how it goes.
Any thoughts out tere? Due to experience...
I think it’s fine to allow a fruit tree to go a season without pruning if it was maintained before. Problem with most fruit trees is have they are developed to produce heavier crops than the structure can support. Might consider looking at the tree in another 6weeks or so to determine if you need to thin the fruit.
@@arboristBlairGlenn
Hi Blair!
And thank you!
It's interesting that the answer to the multi-variety pear in question is the opposite of what the owner thought was going to happen. Trying to increase production but having to thin the fruit for the tree's own good.
This tree has needed fruit thinning before. So I expect it to bear quite heavily at the beginning. And if the tree looses a branch in the right place, she could loose a whole variety out of the four. That would defeat the purpose of the multi grafting. This should be an interesting talk with the owner!
Thanks for the help.
M. D.
Hi Blair. I just sent you an email about a similar apple tree
Ok now I’m worried! I h/b a passionate gardener my whole life but now downsized so I am gardening with pots & grow bags. Today I found a 4 in 1 espaliered appl tree in a 7 gal pot ($172) at my local nursery & I planned on buying it in the morning. Altho I was very excited now I am not so sure. I love to fuss & my patios are perfect BUT what if one graft dies? Will I have a 3 legged tree? HELP!
I. Often see failures of the grafts in these multi graft trees. I hear often “I spent so much and this is all that is left”. I have seen large trees get grafts that took adding to the assortment. Sorry. Try it but maintaining an espaliered tree is also a challenge. I have some videos on that.
@@arboristBlairGlenn I am grateful I found you, thx. Since my husband doesn’t eat apples I think I will do a few more dwarf citrus or another cherry. I rarely have a plant die on me b/c I am retired & fuss over ev leaf/flower etc. BUT it will bother me if something happens to 1 graft & the tree becomes lopsided. I was sold on the idea of it being trained so narrow as my upper patio has south facing sun with a large retractable screen & when its up 1 foot I get a strip of sun from noon on. Grateful in zone 9 ❤️
@@arboristBlairGlenn I decided to buy a semi-dwarf Santa Rosa plum which I love. It’s a vigorous grower so I will keep it pruned to 6ft as we go along so the center branches are sturdy enough to hold fruit. They said it was 5 yrs old & in 5 gal so will transplant to a 10 gal which should hold for few years. The arborist who helped me pruned all of last years growth off the height so lower branches will grow sturdier. So much fun I barely sleep at night with so much in bloom. (I have 5 diff varieties of Hydrangeas on my morning sun patio & ea one is a diff color as I am fussing with the PH both naturally with coffee grinds/citrus peel & egg shells/ baking soda) ❤️
That must be an expensive one.
$189.00 on the tag
@@arboristBlairGlenn Wow.
Umm, tagging this video for 6 years from now update
I believe they will call me back so I will follow it.
Multi-graft trees, neat but unnecessary.