[09viewlake]

Planted a sweet cherry maiden 3-4 years ago against a south facing wall with the objective of growing a fan. Now I have a central stem in the fan which will become a tree unless I do something. Should I just lop the top off at the top of the wall and hope some laterals grow or give in and let it become a tree (ie cut off the rest of the fan instead)? I am just a bit concerened that it is right against the wall and the roots of a tree may damage the wall.

[BabbyAnn]

whether it's a free standing tree or an espalier (fan), I think the roots are still going to do damage.

As for the situation you have now and want to retain the fan, then lopping the top off should encourage other branches to grow - but you really must do annual trims to nip off unsuitable branches (those that grow outwards or cross over, and especially the new growth from the top)  As it is a cherry tree, do this task in mid-summer (not winter) to reduce risk of silver leaf disease

[AnnieB]

A fan tree needs to be trained every year to maintain the fan structure, or else it reverts to what would be it's natural state - a tree.

Sounds as if you haven't managed to spend the time to do the training required, which I will say that for a fan tree is a reasonable amount of thought, planning and actually doing. I never really had the time to maintain any I have had. Inconsiderate that it wouldn't grow as I wanted naturally.

Find that other then a bush or tree shape an espelier is the one that makes most sense to me but don't think you get espelier cherry's.

May need to get a reasonable guide on producing a fan trained fruit tree, then sit down and work out the best approach to regain control. May need quantities of bamboo and string.

[Jamrock]

I'm confused a bit as to the current state of the tree. Do you have any pictures?

[Sparkyrog]

I had to  remove a cherry tree that was 5ft away from my greenhouse as the roots started to lift the foundations

[BabbyAnn]

but don't think you get espelier cherry's.

Many years ago at my mother's house, we bought a Morello cherry which was already trained and we planted it against a sturdy trellis erected between posts.  Every year we trimmed it back and kept it more or less the fan shaped - it looked more like a hedge than a tree 

[jonewer]

You cant espalier a plum or cherry as they're just too vigorous to have their growth restricted so.

You can fan train them though, this restricts their growth quite a bit but they will tolerate being fanned. You cannot allow the central leader to become dominant or it will turn into a dirty great tree!

I just ordered a plum on VVA1 for fanning against a north-east wall.

[jonewer]

PS Prune cherries and plums in spring, not in winter.

[09viewlake]

....think the pics were too big - now resized and attached again!

[09viewlake]

Just wanted to say that the Morrello is behaving itself but the Stella is making a bid for tree-dom! I have attended to both in the same way but the Stella is developing a large central stem - maybe take it out entirely?

[Jamrock]

Top picture looks very good but the bottom isn't really a fan atall. It might be salvagable with some work though.

I can't quite make it out from the picture but do you have wires running horizontally across the wall?

You really need a lot of pruning, the central leader needs to come down to nearly level with the highest two laterals, the laterals you want to keep need to be tied in and everything else that looks messy needs to go

[09viewlake]

I ran horizontal wires all along the wall. To the left of the Stella I have 3 x espaliers (apple & pear) and to the right 2 x espalier figs. I tied-in canes across the wires to create the foundation for the fan - the same approach for the Morrello.

[09viewlake]

....I meant to say 2 x fig fans to the right!

[mumofstig]

Are they both on the same rootstocks the stella looks a much stronger growing tree?

I'd be inclined to take out the top leader and the thick branch either side of it also, in April. Then wait for some new growth to tie to canes in a fan shape at the top.

As already said they do need a lot of summer pruning as per RHS advice here
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?PID=625

[09viewlake]

Both on COLT (semi dwarf!).