Anyone got any tips for places with authoritive advice? A bit of googling is just turning up the usual conflicting hear-say and dribble.
We have a tiny back garden. The house is constructed in the newest new-build way – timber frame and half brick skin. I want to grow a single cherry tree espalier against the south facing back wall, as this is the ONLY position it could go in.
I’m sure the above ground growth will not interact at all with the half brick skin (rawled hook and wire) and I’m not going any more than 6ft high.
What I can’t seem to get, is any authoritive advice about any possible interaction with the foundations (other than a lot of teeth sucking). Either direct (root infiltration) or indirect (clay/marl contraction). I’ve assessed services. The house builder and NHCC are useless.
I can’t get the root stock much more than 12″ from the nominal wall line, and I’m not especially keen on growing in a container – constant mulching and watering is a PITA! I’m not sure root stock constriction would help yeild in a cherry, like it does in some other soft fruits.