GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Planting two semi-dward pear cultivars in a confined space

Spider[_3_] · 15-09-2016, 04:06 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

On 07/09/2016 16:51, wrote:
On Monday, August 22, 2016 at 1:18:55 PM UTC+1, Spider wrote:
On 19/08/2016 22:20, wrote:
On Friday, August 19, 2016 at 12:45:32 AM UTC+1, Dave Hill wrote:

Just remember that if they are 6ft apart then they only have to grow
3from the trunk to be touching.

Yes.... that's why I was chewing over the idea of planting both in the same hole, like you suggested. I suspect that visually, the end result might look more pleasing to the eye than having them 6ft apart, provided they both grow in a similar way. Would you agree? I could probably just plant one tree instead of two, as they are both supposed to be somewhat self-pollinating. But these trees were only £10 each, so I got the two different cultivars. I *could* plant one in the spot I mentioned and the other one on the other side of my tall garden wall (I own the land beyond)... but I wouldn't be able to see it from my garden then, and the fruit would be awkward to access.

Cheers,
JD

I'm wondering now what shape your trees are. Would it be possible to
train them as espaliers on that wall - or elsewhere in the garden on a
framework? It would put both trees neatly in a narrow space as well as
giving you thorough control over them, making it easier to monitor their
health and subsequently thin and pick fruit without a ladder. Espaliers
can make handsome garden features, even in winter due to their trained
branches. Worth a hard look, I would have thought.

--
Spider
On high ground in SE London
Gardening on heavy clay

Hi Spider; that's a great suggestion! I have a concrete bock wall that is 5ft tall. If I were to implement your suggestion, I wouldn't have to yous the same planting location. So, provided that 5ft is enough height, then, yes, this is a definite possibility. At the moment my two trees are rather shapeless. They are both just vertical trunks/stems (about 15mm thick, with not much in the way of branches yet. One of them has literally no branched at all, just leafing nodes. I hope some branches will emerge next spring.

I find heavily-pruned pear trees slightly unattractive, because they look so unnatural, but the espalier idea would be a whole different thing, so this wouldn't apply. The wall I have would definitely benefit from something like this too, to improve its appearance. And it would be a learning experience!
JD

Hi JD,

I'm glad you like the idea. I should think 5ft would be ideal, much
taller and cropping (and thinning fruits) would become more difficult.

You should remove any grass or other plants/weeds growing near the wall,
so you have a soil border about 2ft wide. Dig the soil over well and
incorporate some good compost, because these trees are going to be there
a long time. You will need to plant the trees about 18" from the wall
(15" would do if you're short of space), so that the roots are not in
the "rain shadow" of the wall. When you plant you will be glad that you
dug over the whole border, because it will be easier to place the pears
exactly where you want them with their roots spread out. They will also
establish and grow away better.

Once the trees are planted, you could fill the remaining ground with
snowdrops, winter aconites, cyclamen coum, anemone blanda (esp. blue)
and crocuses to give you good spring colour while the trees are in
bloom. If you add cylamen hederifoilim for autumn colour, you will have
a very pretty and productive border.

A picture of the trees would help, but I'm hoping that they will branch
for you come spring.

--
Spider
On high ground in SE London
Gardening on heavy clay