[japagow]

I have an apple tree two years old and starting to fruit that needs support.

A friend tells me to 'esplanade' it or something in French. He said he did a whole avenue of trees in this way by providing a staked frame around the tree.

I have seen staked trees on spreading trees before, to support the branches and would like some advice on how to do it and how to pronounce it properly please.

[SUTTY1]

Think the word your after  is Espalier. I started training 2 fruit trees this way along fence at plot 2yrs ago unfortunately frost battered them this year but seems a good way to get a crop from a limited space without too much shade. (and it looks good)

Too hard for me to explain in a message but most gardening books will show it or google it. Good luck

[japagow]

Two words I've learnt are Pleaching and Quincunx (?) along with Espalier.

No, I won't espalier after all. I'll follow the advice ion the RealEnglishFruit.co.uk web site and tie down the branches and prune where necessary.

I don't have a wall to espalier to and my little house is not like Hampton Court or Versailles so it won't matter.

Thanks for your response.