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I have pulled up my tatty privet and planted 5 mixed varieties of young apple trees instead and strung some galvanised wire up for them to grow along. I rather like the idea of "espalier" training. But there are TWO issues. I have never done it before and the ground is on a 40 degree slope.... any advice?

I have trained espaliers and you need to start with a (I think) one year old tree which is just a straight sapling, which you then prune at the top which encourages the side branches. You need to grow them trained up a bamboo cane at about a 45 degree angle from the trunk, which you gradually bring down to horizontal before the branches become too woody and rigid. The next year you prune the top again so the next row of side branches start forming. It's way too complicated to explain so what you need is a good book or website with very good diagrams to follow!

Dear Dave45,

I've done it with laxton and orlean reinette. Just tie the nearest branches to the wires and prune out the rest. It's really just a matter of looking carefully to see where things should go, trust your own judgement,

Love and Peace
Jim