Maintaining an espalier's decorative

it's also best not to let the tree bear fruit Maintaining an espalier's decorative design requires some however handiwork. The tree wants to grow vertically, and any shoots that compete with the design have to be pruned.

And it's also best not to let the tree bear fruit until the branches on either side of the trunk are 3 to 4 feet long, which also requires more pruning, said Anju Lucas, perennial manager at Edwards Greenhouse in Boise, which carries espaliers."It's not for the faint of heart," she said. "Anything that dwarf will take an incredible amount of fussing."

For Crum, it's a labor of love. "You have to wait until you find the right buds in the right place," he said. "I'm careful not to cut off something I'll need later."