Hugely popular fruit-tree expert Kate Marshall is returning to Rapaura Springs Garden Marlborough to share more secrets of espalier, and to talk about dwarf fruit trees and family tree plantings.

On Friday learn about espalier, the formal tree-training method utilising wall space for fruit production. Victorian walled gardens used it to beautify brick walls while also taking advantage of their reflected warmth, and modern gardens can use the same technique, especially where space is limited. Kate will show how to set up the structures with different forms of espalier, and discuss the best varieties to use.

In Saturday’s presentation, Kate will profile the top five easiest and most productive fruit trees to grow in your home garden. She’ll talk about how to select the best varieties, where to plant and how to care for the trees to enjoy big crops of fruit every year. You’ll hear about varieties that do best in cooler and warmer climates, what to do if the soil is not ideal, how to pack in fruit trees when space is limited, and one of Kate’s favourites: how to plan your home orchards to make the harvesting season as long as possible.

Kate has been living and breathing fruit trees in her role as Sales and Marketing Manager at Nelson’s Waimea Nurseries over the last 18 years. She’s been a contributing writer for NZ Gardener’s monthly fruit tree column, and fruit tree expert for Tony Murrell’s Home & Garden Show on Radio Live.

All workshop attendees will receive a baby fruit tree to take home, in Waimea’s new eco-friendly, plastic-free packaging.