I know this is gonna be a weird one but I want to try this. I am trying to get a whole bunch of starts off my grandmother's plum tree as some of you know. I want to try something if I get enough of them to start. I want to take 7-12 of them and arrange them in a circle and work them intertwined as they get older. I know they will eventually grow together but I want this too. I want a truly gnarled trunk that is super strong and very large. The question is: If I can do this, can I still separate the individual trees and have them grow to produce their own section of fruit? I know they will be all fed from the same source but I want them to be separate tree if that makes sense. 7-12 trees with one central massive trunk? (Well, maybe not 7 but you get the idea, maybe 3-5) Any thoughts?
I think it sounds really exciting, and also a fun experiment! Why don't you just try it and see how it goes? I've plaited rowan tree stems, and it's growing well. Up until now anyways.
I've done it with pear trees (3) but they now look like one tree with a twisted trunk. I must try to get some piccies later for you but it's pouring of rain at the moment.