Granite Posts for My Asian Pear Espalier
I'm looking forward to seeing many delicious fruits growing on my new Asian pear espalier.
Recently, my outdoor grounds crew planted 10 espalier Asian pear trees in front of my peafowl yard. I love Asian pears - they're firm, crisp and delightfully sweet. They're less juicy than European pears, but are wonderful to eat fresh and great for cooking. Once the trees were planted, it was time to install the four granite posts that will support the wire-strung form used in training espalier trees. These posts are the same 18th century Chinese granite uprights I use to support my long clematis pergola, my blueberries, raspberries, and my espalier apple trees near my Winter House.
Here are more photos of this interesting project, enjoy.
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- I bought many of these antique posts from China. Originally, they were used as grape supports in a valley that was going to be dammed and flooded to create a reservoir. Now, I use these beautiful posts for various projects around my farm – including my own grapevines that are located behind my vegetable greenhouse.
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- Here is the first of four posts already being put into position for drilling, Each post needs three holes for the wire frame. To make the holes, Chhiring and Pasang set the granite post under this core drill. Granite has a density of around 162 pounds per cubic foot – each post is quite heavy.
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- The holes are pre-marked where I wanted them to be. Always make sure to allot ample room at the bottom since the post will be placed into the ground, and give at least 12 to 18 inches between each row of wire.
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- Chhiring places the drill directly above the first marked hole.
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- Here he is making sure everything is in place before he lowers the drill.
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- A core drill can penetrate various surface types. It can cut cement, wood, rocks, ice, and of course, granite. It pushes through the surface with a twisting motion to create the hole.
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- Chhiring controls the drill from above and watches the drilling very carefully to make nothing goes wrong.
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- To drill through these granite posts takes time – about 15 to 20 minutes per hole. Chhiring uses his own weight to keep the post in place.
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- When it is done, the result is a smooth, clean cut. Water continuously passes through the drill as it is working to help the drill pierce through the surface of the material. In addition, wet core drill bits help control dust by flushing out the cuts.
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- Here’s a closer look through the hole itself – it’s perfect.
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- One post down and three more to go.
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- And here are some of the granite cores that are removed from the post holes.
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- Once all four posts are done, they are moved to the location down by my stable.
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- I plotted exactly where the posts would go. Chhiring marked the areas using landscape spray paint.
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- The sod was removed from those spots and then Pasang started digging.
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- Chhiring measures the holes once they are all dug – each one is about two feet deep.
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- A flat stone is placed at the bottom to prevent any shifting or sinking over time.
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- Pasang and Chhiring secure support stakes around the post to keep it still.
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- Chhiring then mixes the concrete. He uses a quick set mix, so this part of the process must be done as fast as possible.
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- Once the concrete mixture is made, Chhiring fills each hole and uses a gauging trowel to level and smooth out the concrete top.
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- The high stretch concrete mix only takes a few hours to dry, but these posts are left to dry overnight.
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- By the next morning, the sod is put back around the posts. The only thing left to do is to attach the support wire for the frame. We will also place turnbuckles at the ends to take up slack if the wire stretches. I am so pleased with how it looks. I hope this Asian pear espalier produces great fruit for many, many years.
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