After losing my weeping pussy willow standard last winter, I'm determined to have more success this year with the replacements standards & apple espalier (I'm not even sure you knew I had an espalier???) We had an extremely windy fall/winter which may have been a big factor in that loss??
Whatever the cause, I don't want another repeat with more of my valuable plants, so I started researching (in late summer) steps to prevent more casualties.
Three 2012 additions ~ Apple Espalier, 'Miss Kim' lilac standard & David Austins 'Winchester Cathedral' standard ~ all concern me & therefore warrant extra protection (if for no other reason than my piece of mind!).
The Apple espalier has six different varieties grafted onto the trunk ~ Gala, Jonagold, Gravenstein, Braeburn, Macintosh & Fuji. All are semi dwarf.
Each graft successfully bloomed & even produced a few fruit:
which were larger than we expected & quite delicious.
But I digress ~ back to the research! Results concluded the best way to add extra protection was to wrap the trunks ~ especially at the point of grafts. The easiest (& fastest) way is by using pipe insulation!
Perfect! We like easy & fast around here...
Above, trunk wrapped, all that's left is a bit of extra detail to the graft points.
What do you think?? Will it work?? I sure hope so!
I like the idea of using pipe insulation for a relatively quick and neat job. It should be easy to remove in spring as well. Good luck with the overwintering. You should be harvesting even more apples next year as they mature.
Posted by: Northern Shade | November 17, 2012 at 08:50 AM
Those apples look much prettier than ours! lol I hope the insulation works -- it looks like it should.
Posted by: sweetbay | November 17, 2012 at 06:03 PM
I find it interesting that so many varieties are grafted on one stem. I think the pipe insulation will work. Watch that the freezing and thawing doesn't create moisture inside the insulation.
Posted by: Janet, The Queen of Seaford | November 18, 2012 at 07:50 AM
Gosh, I hope it works. Those Apples look delish! We had three Apple trees at our old house, and I miss them so much! I would think Miss Kim would be fine. I believe that's the variety I have--two of them--and they've survived brutal, windy winters for decades. Good luck!
Posted by: PlantPostings | November 18, 2012 at 09:54 PM
I didn't know you had an espaliered apple and would love to know where you got it! Love the pipe insulation!
Posted by: Gail | November 22, 2012 at 01:13 PM