Through the use of pruning techniques, it is possible to shape your tree into a certain style. There are seven main tree shapes that all have their own advantages for certain situations. During the growth of the tree, simply cut off the unnecessary branches, tie the desired branches to the proper size, and you will be able to give it the shape you want. However, for some of the more advanced shapes, equally advanced pruning techniques are needed. Many books have been written on this subject.
Generally, if you are trying to get your tree down to a certain size, all tying and pruning should take place in the fall. This will encourage the shape to stick, as no fruit will be produced at that point. Each of the different shapes is very useful in certain situations. So, here are a few different types of sizes that you can choose from.
Standard trees hardly need any explanation. These are the varieties that are most common, and are probably what you think of when you think of a tree. No specific shaping is required to get the shape to take on this look. Just let it go and sort it normally, and unless you have an oddly distorted tree, it should be a standard tree.
It is possible to turn a standard tree into a shrub tree through pruning. The branches take the same shape, but the trunk or trunk of the tree is noticeably shorter. This can be beneficial if you want to grow trees, but don't want to block the view. For example, my house has a great view of the Rocky Mountains. I didn't want to sacrifice this gorgeous view, so I made my trees grow as bushes.
Cordon is a type of tree that you may not be familiar with. It has a stem with no branches. It is mounted at an angle so that it is inclined upwards to the ground. During its growth, all branches are removed. These are advantageous as they take up a very small amount of space and can fit more into a certain square footage. The only downside is that they produce a small amount of fruit per tree.
Espalier trees grow with a vertical stem in the center, and several horizontal branches on each side. These allow for long rows of trees, while still producing large amounts of fruit. If you operate an orchard, you probably use this size to fit as many trees as possible in your area.
Fan trees use the same principle as espalier trees. However, the size is slightly different. The same central vertical stem is used, but the connected branches are not horizontal; They grow in a pattern similar to a standard tree, only they are two-dimensional instead of three-dimensional. They are also used to save space, and are used instead of espalier trees for some types of trees that do better with sloping branches.
Another type of espalier is the step-over espalier. They are like a typical espalier, but with just one horizontal branch, much closer to the ground. They're especially interesting because they still produce delicious fruit while providing a range for whatever you want. I have used terraced trees for fencing my garden. They are definitely my favorite shape of tree, mainly because they are like a fence that bears fruit. What's not to love?
As you can see, each of these sizes has its advantages and disadvantages as well. If any of these seem like they would be a good fit for your garden, you can consult with your local nursery staff about reading materials that will help you achieve your goals. Most of the time, getting the tree into the desired shape is a very easy process and just requires some guidance in the beginning.
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