TXcass:

What would be your objective in trying to braid two apple trees together? Are you trying to create something with an unusual appearance, or are you under the impression that trees braided together offer some unique advantages? You can do just about anything with trees is you are willing to devote the time and energy to accomplish your goal, but I fail to appreciate the virtues of braiding fruit trees together.

If you want more than one variety on a tree, you can simply graft Granny to RD, or vice-versa. A braided tree might look attractive while small, but I cannot visualize such a tree when it grows up to maturity, especially if it is on a standard or one of the larger semi-dwarf rootstocks. Dwarf trees braided together might be practical if you keep them pruned down and under control.

If you try such an experiment, you will want to start with very young, flexible trees, and be very cautious as you attempt to braid them together. As the trees mature, I think your ability to braid them together will be lost before too many years have passed.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Thanks Don! My intent would definitely be more for the unusual appearance, but also to save space. I would definitely keep them pruned down and under control, and would be starting with very young flexible trees. I just didn't know if anyone had ever attempted anything similar and experienced anything that would make it bad for the trees. I am a young gardener with little experience, and just thought of this crazy idea. :)

Thanks,
Cassie

I've heard of it. I think I've seen it I just don't remember much about it. I know I've seen similar trees growing wild.

The only long term harm I can think of would be along the lines of the trees strangling each other. But on dwarf that would probably be quite a few years.
An actual braid would probably be very short lived because of strangling.

Short term would be point where they're together would be a hiding place for bugs and disease.

It would definitely be a thing you had to do when young. You'd probably even find whips too set in their ways and have to prune them and work with brand new wood.

I wouldn't be surprised if instead of strangling each other the trees would fuse into one. I often encounter this kind of thing with neglected apple trees where rubbing branches do this although the process may be aided by rubbing from wind pressure which would not happen in your scheme.

Someone once e-d me a collection of photographs of trees that had been manipulated to form all kinds of interesting shapes. Can't remember if any of these forms included brading but a classic pleach involves this kind of tissue integration without the aid of wind rubs.

Obviously it would be far more practical just to graft a few varieties on one tree, but not nearly as interesting.

Florida nurseries do this all the times with various tropical plants for indoor use as houseplants and also for outdoor specimens in tropical climates. In particular, they do lot of dracaenas, ficus, and hibiscus. Quite common to see these at places like Home Depot and Lowes.

Ficus and hibiscus are woody trees just like apples. It definitely would work with apples, but as Jellyman points out, probably better to use a dwarf for this than a standard. And, as Harvestman said, the trees will eventually fuse together. After many years, you do lose the braided effect as the trunks grow (sort of like a loaf of Challah bread that has overrisen before baking).

But yes, it will definitely work.

There is a home about an hour from me where 2 ash trees have grown together, just one branch from each tree, they sort of meet in the middle and it's very hard to tell where one starts and the other begins..they have been there 10 years that I know of...their trunks are about 12" in diameter, and the branch that has grown between the 2 trees is about 8"...it didn't seem to harm them...I go that way every spring and always detour to check on that tree..I just think it's cool. I always thought that if I owned that house I would hang a swing or at least a welcome sign from it to highlight it..I don't even know if the owners have ever even noticed it.
If you are going to braid a tree, I would start with a much bigger(wider) braid than would probably look good for years, to give the trees room to expand and grow into each other. Try making the holes between the braids huge, or they will choke each other out, I would think.
Give it a try...sounds interesting!!
On my fenceline, there are old hickory trees with old barbed wire going right through the trunks..the trees just grew over it and kept growing.. Donna

Go to google images and look for Axel Erlandson. You can see all kinds of crazy stuff that he did. Grafting, twisting, bending, etc. The trees look pretty cool. Currently, some of them are in Gilroy, CA.

-Little John

Here is a link that might be useful: Axel E. Google Images

Please, give us an update. Im about to do my own braid...

I hope your project was sucess!