Winter winds can damage espaliered trees even when they're anchored to walls. Martha Stewart recently shared her method for reinforcing the columnar European hornbeams at her home, and it's surprisingly simple to replicate.
Espaliered trees are trained to grow flat against walls using trellises, creating elegant vertical displays. But strong winter gusts can damage branches or pull trees away from their supports. Stewart's crew devised a reinforcement technique using wire, screws, and bamboo stakes that adds extra security.
Why these trees need extra support
Espaliered trees grow flat against walls using trellises or support structures, creating decorative vertical displays that save garden space. This training technique looks elegant but leaves trees vulnerable to winter weather.
Winter winds threaten even anchored espaliered trees because their flat growth pattern exposes more surface area to gusts. The narrow, upright branches can't flex and bend like freestanding trees, making them susceptible to damage or detachment from supports.
Follow these three steps to reinforce your espaliered trees before winter arrives. The wire-and-stake method provides extra security without complex installation or specialized skills.
What you'll need
- Concrete anchoring screws and washers
- Copper-coated 20-gauge wire
- Bamboo stakes
- Drill with masonry bits
- Measuring tape
1. Drill and install anchor screws
Drill two-inch-deep holes in the wall at the center point of each trellis section. Make sure the drill goes straight through the mortar, which can be tough to penetrate but creates the strongest anchor point.
Attach washers to concrete anchoring screws before installation. The washers distribute pressure and prevent the wire from pulling through.
Wrap copper-coated 20-gauge wire around each screw before securing them in the drilled holes. Copper-coated wire is weather-resistant and sturdy enough to withstand winter conditions without rusting or breaking.
2. Add bamboo stakes behind the trellis
Measure bamboo stakes to match the width of each trellis section. Precise measurements ensure even support across the entire tree structure.
Next, cut the stakes to size and trim any splinters that could damage branches or catch on the trellis. Smooth bamboo provides a protective buffer between the wire and the tree.
Place the bamboo stakes behind the trellis so they sit between the tree branches and the wall. The bamboo distributes pressure evenly across the espaliered branches rather than concentrating stress on individual points.
3. Secure wire to stakes and trellis
Wrap the free ends of the wire around both the bamboo stakes and the trellis, keeping the distance from the wall consistent on each side. This creates tension that holds everything in place.
Uneven tension can stress branches unevenly during wind storms, so make sure to take a final measurement to confirm symmetry between both sides of the installation.
You can test the wire tightness by gently tugging to ensure it's secure. The wire should be taut enough to provide support but not so tight that it damages the tree or trellis.
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