The upright “fan” shape used by many espalier growers is particularly suited for columnar trees. If you’re looking to grow fruit-bearing trees, there are columnar trees available for you! They take a bit more care, but it’s worth the effort.įruit trees, columnar or not, can be trained to an espalier type of growth. If there are broken or wind-damaged sections at other times of the year, you can remove those as needed to prevent damage to the rest of the tree. Select a time in which fruit trees and some other species are dormant if possible. Most pruning of small trees for gardens will happen in the late fall or in the very early spring. If not, remove it low on the tree to allow for other foliage to fill in space. Look to see whether any of the branch is still alive, and if so, try to keep the lower segment which is living. If there are dead branches, those can and should be removed. But what of columnar fruit trees which require older wood to fruit on? Be careful with these, if only so you make sure to maintain some of that necessary older wood on your small garden trees. Whip-like slender growth that can’t support its greenery is often the most common target of pruning. Clip just above that node, leaving the node in place and removing excess leaf weight. These nodes provide a point from which new foliage can develop in the future.

Is the branch itself thick enough to support the weight of its foliage? If not, look for a leaf node on the branch. Since their branches do stay mostly upright, the goal is to reduce excess growth that is bending branches outward.Įxamine any branch sections that are starting to curve outward. Much of the process of pruning columnar trees is intended to enhance their upright growth habit. Adding these along the length of a long driveway makes for a stunning visual display, and a pair at either side of a porch can produce a dramatic, pillar-like effect. In addition, columnar trees can be a dramatic garden feature. They’re also used with great effect as a privacy fence, since their foliage is often dense and thick. Planting a row of them creates what amounts to a green wall that breaks up high wind and slows it as it rolls across your property. This form of growth allows the foliage at the branch tips to reach sunlight easily.Ĭolumnar trees are extremely effective as a windbreak. Many have fastigiate branches, which means they grow almost straight up rather than out from the tree, thus narrowing the size of the tree’s canopy. With columnar trees, you don’t need as much space. Let’s discuss everything you’ll need to know to maintain these lovely narrow trees properly! What Is a Columnar Tree? Columnar trees provide visual interest, can be used as privacy fences, and make excellent wind breaks. Instantly, they add a bit of beauty and grace to a landscape.īut what exactly are columnar trees? Is there science behind how they grow in such straight, column-like fashion? And most importantly, how do we maintain them so they look their best? Their slender shape often makes them appear well-pruned and neat, even though they may not have been pruned in a while. These narrow trees look formal and crisp in appearance.

They have their own spire-like beauty that provides a wonderful contrast against wide-spreading plants. Columnar trees add beautiful color and power to a landscape.

Northern ca types of maple trees