Limited Space? Go For Plenty Of Character

Here’s a hot landscape dilemma a south-facing end of a mobile home with only three feet separating the home from the asphalt driveway. Even artificial flowers may find these conditions a bit unpleasant. Yet there’s always hope.

We need something that will not only break up the height of the home, but also will soften the harsh appearance of metal and asphalt. Since the growing space is narrow, our choice of plant materials is limited, what we really need is one plant with a ton of character.

A plant that comes to mind is an apple tree. Not just any old apple tree, but an espaliered apple tree. Espalier is a pruning technique that allows only a few select branches to develop by removing all other branches. If you want the plant to grow against a wall, as we do in the case of the mobile home, then we need to prune the plant so that it’s flat against the wall. In other words, all back and front facing branches are removed, leaving only a select number of side branches. These branches will eventually be trained to grow horizontally, pinned against the wall.

In order for the apple tree to grow close to the wall, it must be planted quite near the foundation. Aggressive root systems are usually not a problem with espaliered plants, because the corresponding branching is kept at a minimum. To alleviate any potential problems, choose apple trees that are grown on dwarf root stalk.

We also want the tree to begin branching about 1 foot above the soil line. To accomplish this, it’s best to begin by planting an unbranched tree or whip that stands about 4 feet tall. It’s much easier to train an unbranched tree to grow where you want it, than to fuss with a branched one.

Once the tree has been planted, forge ahead with confidence. We are going to cut the whip down to about 1-1/2 feet from the ground. Before lopping its top off, make sure there are three healthy buds just below the cut. This 1-foot stub will sprout two side branches (one on either side of the trunk) and a new center stem. Allow the center stem to grow vertically and, for now, the side branches at 45-degree angles. Branches that grow at an angle tend to grow a bit faster than branches allowed to grow horizontally. Once the side branches have lengthened a bit, pull them into their permanent position and attach them to the wall. If one branch or arm is growing too fast, simply lower it. If it is growing too slow, raise it to a more vertical position.

The following spring, again prune the central leader about 1-1/2 feet above the bottom branches. Again, the leader must be pruned just above three buds - one for the new leader and two for the horizontal branches. You can continue this procedure until it reaches your desired height. Personally, I prefer three tiers with long, flowing horizontal branches.

Espaliered plants always require support. We can pin them to walls or stake them with posts and wires.

During the spring months, the wall becomes a bouquet of fragrant blossoms followed by a canopy of soft, cool green leaves. By fall, the wall is an explosion of color, giving way to an exquisite winter silhouette of bare branches.

Apples aren’t the only plants that can be espaliered. Pears, kiwi fruit, pyracantha and wisterias can be quite elegant.

One other option we can consider for this narrow space, is an arbor, the width and height of the end of the mobile home and three feet deep. A wisteria, trumpet vine, bittersweet vine or annual morning glory twining in and out of the arbor, would not only soften the home, but add a very pleasant texture to the structure.

To add a bit of drama, simply attach a section of decorative fencing to one end of the arbor and pull it one-third of the way across the end of the home. On the other end of the arbor, add another two-foot section of the same fence. For color, fill two containers of different sizes full of sun-loving annuals. Place these two pots where the long piece of fence and the arbor connect. Where the short piece of fence and arbor come together, place only one container stuffed with annuals. The space between the two fences can be dressed up with a few decorative stepping stones and a bit of wooley thyme.

Though this problem centered around a mobile home, espaliered plants and arbors can help solve many narrow landscape dilemmas. With a bit of ingenuity, any landscape problem can be solved.

Upcoming: A plant propagation seminar on growing plants from seeds and cuttings will be given April 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Spokane County Ag Center, 222 N. Havana. Bring a brown bag lunch. The seminar is $25 and preregistration is recommended; call 533-2048.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Phyllis Stephens The Spokesman-Review