This is really a newish idea but I wanted to know if I can do it. I have 3 Filberts that I want to grow into a walking, a real stick. I know they will grow and twist around each other but is there any way to get them to literraly grow together at certain points on the stem/trunk? Can a person make a small cut in each one, tape them together, protect them with that tree cutting stuff and expect them to actually grow together?
I've braided a couple of rowan trees (you call them mountain ash I think), and they grew together all by themselves as the stems grew thicker. I trimmed three thin shots of side shoots and braided them like you'd braid you hair, and kept braiding as they grew. I don't know how they're doing now since I had to leave them at my last home.
What you are wanting to do is called 'pleaching' I have a 'pleached' plum (Green Gage,STANLEY & ITALIAN PRUNE)and an apple (Lodi & Yellow Transparent)I Started them last spring. here is a link to Dave Wilson Nursery in California this is thier video page .the pleaching video is short but it will give you an idea. it is at the very bottom of the page . http://www.davewilson.com/video/diy_1.html
