Espalier! Espalier! Espalier!

Anyone out there that speaks French and wants to tell me how to say this word I'm all ears. I'm saying it as "es-spa-lee-aye" but no idea if that's correct.

So here's the plan....not only espalier-ed but an apple tree guild. A guild is a method of companion planting to support the main crop, in this case the apple tree, by growing around it other plants that will deter pests, enhance flavor, improve soil, and increase yield.

Here's the easier to understand diagram:

But since drawing this diagram and reviewing my perennial beds I decided that most perennials need 18-24 inches not a foot so my collage has less plants than diagrammed to give them more room. So the plants I plan to possible put around or *definitely put around the apple trees are as follows:

Comfrey

Mint

*Chives, regular not garlic unless garlic already there

*Allium Globemaster, some already in place

*Yarrow, summer dreams have 3 plants

Daisy, not sure which type needed

*May Night Salvia because I love it!!!!

*Lupine plant from seed

*Strawberries, some already in place

Trifolium purpurens-purple clover

*Thyme creeping pink, have lots of seeds not sure how easy to grow

Need to add stepping stones into the diagram as well. Maybe need new diagram!

And I guessed when I drew the tree about a foot from the fence but that turns out to be the right minimum distance away.  This blog was also helpful:

Flowers and Weeds: Espalier Fruit Trees You Can Grow

I would normally never be planting or moving plants in July and August but this summer the weather has been ridiculously mild and lots of rain. So let the planting carry on!

Now to get my husband to work on the deck and fencing. He promised to do so tomorrow. If he reneges there is going to be some possible blood shed, ok at least tears.

Hugulkultur

Everything I've seen on Hugulkultur always starts with piles of wood.

Almost finished compost.

I was so bummed with this rainy weather. We have 3 day weekend and it's raining and forecast to continue all 3 days. So what in the world can I do outside to fulfill my need to garden? I haven't put the azaleas in my parent's backyard yet and that needs to happen. THEN IT HIT ME! HUGULKULTUR! No it's not a way to grow mushrooms but similar. In a woodland garden the forest floor is rich with nutrients from decaying leaves and branches. It just so happens that they have tons of wood and sticks in a pile in backyard, my leaf mold is aging in a dog pen, and what better way to make a nice bed for AZALEAS that like to live in the acidic, edge of the forest. HUGULKULTUR will be perfect.

Here's an example although this guy didn't use much other than wood. http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/permacult/msg0413325228156.html

Turned over one row of the sod by the fence the rest I covered with  cardboard.

I watched a video a few days ago where they made a mound about 20 feet wide and 5 feet high with wood peices in the base then layers of straw, leaves, garbage, junkmail, newspaper, and manure layered up. I used wood, leaf/grass mix that's already started molding, finished compost, Better Earth compost, clay dirt from  my front yard, newspaper, cardboard. Not in that order actually. I can't find that video now which is a bummer because I think it was to reggae music. Here's a similar one but they didn't throw garbage in their pile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sNd_v_Fs6w

Here's a how to document:
http://burlingtonpermaculture.weebly.com/uploads/4/2/8/9/4289790/hugulkultur_-_how_to_acidify_your_soil_naturally.pdf

Where's the video I watched?

Bricks will go around edge of many of these beds later.

Cardboard-Rotting Wood-Leaf Mold-Compost-Newspaper- Leaf  Mold- Compost -Leaf  Mold. Then letting it sit in rain this weekend and will add more after I see how it settles.

I can't find the video I originally watched. Guess I'm going to have to make my own. But too late. These pictures will have to suffice.