[Neil Martin]

Does anyone have experience with creating a Belgian fence? I am trying this for the first time. I plan 9 trees for 20 ft fence. Aiming for 5 ft high. I've made the structure and am ready to plant but have some doubts about my tree selection. I have 3 apples on m9, 3 pears on quince c and 3 plums/gages on St Julien rootstock. I thought that as plums are said to grow well in a fan shape that would be fine. . as a Belgian fence is really just trees in y shaped fan form with 2 main branches each. But now I'm doubting including the plums. Will this be too much pruning for them? Am I better off using only apples and pears?

[Gardener and Rabbit]

Hi Neil,

From my own experience I'd leave the plums out, they don't seem that happy being fan-trained and may die after a few years, whereas all the other fruit that you mention will be fine. I think other members have had similar experiences with plum trees, as per the old thread.

G&R