Yes, but approach grafts work best exposed cambium layer against exposed cambium layer and when they are held securely in place. You can use screws if the trunks/branches are thick enough, nails (not copper), or secure them with grafting tape/wax, strips of cotton cloth, etc.

Al

Thanks Al.

Cheers!

redneck grower ..... I am now in the process of "fuse-grafting" three, 5-foot "ATREANO" fig trees. I started this process about 2 months ago, as my trees were starting to break dormancy.

Last year, I took the trees and potted them into a very large container, about 20-gallons. I made sure that the mainstems were all very close to each other, and then, I took some very soft rope, and tied all the stems tightly, so that the trees looked like a bundle of bamboo poles sticking out of the pot. This spring, after taking out the trees from my unheated storage shed, I drove #4 stainless-steel screws through one stem, then into another close-growing stem. In other words, screw all your stems together, at various points, until you have one, thick, fat, "composite-trunk" made up of the individual stems. Make sure you use only stainless-steel screws that have threads all the way up the shank, use an electric, screw gun, and, drive the screws SLOWLY! Counter-sink the heads just slightly, or you'll run the risk of splitting the stems if screws are driven too deeply. Brass screws are too weak, and the heads will shear-off from the torque. Marine supply stores sell the kind of screws you'll need.

I've also used this "trunk-screwing" technique with "Winterberry Holly" -Ilex verticillata, which requires a male pollinator. I bought some "Winter Red" holly shrubs, with very tall stems, a male pollinator, and I planted all the shrubs, including the male, into one hole. I rope-tied all the stems into a fat bundle, then drove screws through the stems to make one, big, fat, "holly-tree", wich is now growing in my front yard. The male holly is right there in the middle of all the females, insuring good pollination, and the bright, red berries that these hollies produce, can stop you in your tracks!! All the screw heads are now being covered over by the new, bark layers, and, stems are starting to fuse together. The screws force the stems to fuse-graft because they cannot move away from each other, but must, grow INTO each other.

"tapla" suggests that you expose the cambium, to better aid in the grafting process, but I was reluctant to do this, because I was afraid of introducing entry points for disease, etc. It would be my guess that the fig trees will eventually fuse together anyway, even without wounding the cambium layer, but it will probably take longer.

The reason I chose to fuse-graft only one variety instead of different varieties, is because, all the single-variety trees will have the same growth patterns, ripening times, etc. Different varieties may cause problems, or, maybe not. Try it. What can you lose? By the way, there are a number of older postings, on this forum, dealing with this subject .... just use the "search" feature for more information.

Good luck with your experiment. Also check out: "Arbosculpture" sites, and also, "Fuse-grafting Trident Maple" bonsai site (Doug Phillips).

Cordially,
Frank DV

Thanks Frank. Yeah, I did a search, but I seemed to find mostly info on F. benjamina (and I read your earlier post on the subject). I'm inclined not to screw the trunks, but rather wrap them generously with that green, landscape tape stuff. That is what I use to fuse F. benjamina and some Crassula I'm trying.

I'm considering trying this with some other woody plants as well. Like you, I'm not inclined to expose the cambium either. However, I am experimenting with pleaching, and I am exposing cambium in that case.

Thanks for the tips!

redneck grower ....... I could actually search for information, but I hate working, so, .... what exactly is "pleaching" ????? Are you doing this "pleaching" to your fig trees??

I use screws because I believe, that the tape will eventually yield or weaken, and not hold the stems close enough, or, tightly enough, as the trunks increase in diameter. The trick is to prevent the stems from moving, shifting, or, rubbing, and, to force them to graft together. They can't go nowhere if screwed tightly. If you wrap the trunks with tape, doesn't this create spaces for insects/disease/fungus to hide? With the screwed trunks, the hose stream washes out anything that's trapped in the trunks, and then, the stems dry out. Your method sounds interesting, though.

Keep us posted with your results.

Take care, and happy growing.

Frank DV

FrAnK....

(thanks for dropping the caps, btw)

I hope you're documenting your progress in fusing the trees together (and I hope even more that you grace us with those pictures).

~Chills

what exactly is "pleaching" ?????

Pleaching.
Other terms apply to this or similar techniques, including arborsculpture.

I am in the process of creating a "living tunnel", a long arbor of sorts, out of living trees.

I planted 2 parallel rows of Acer negundo. I'm using this 'weed' tree for a few reasons: fast growth, tolerant of heavy pruning (including pollarding), plentiful supply of volunteer seedlings.

Some of the trees are just beginning to branch above head-height. As the branches extend, I will wound the bark and bind the branches of neighboring trees together, creating a living "ceiling" and "walls" of branches and foliage.

This techniques can be used to make all sorts of interesting and bizarre objects, including chairs made out of a single piece of wood (that is, multiple trunks and branches from different trees fused together.)

I'll let you all know how it progresses!

Cheers

chills: ..... Look, no more caps.! Who needs more enemies?
As soon as I take some pictures. I'll try to post some close-up photos taken of the fig-trees, and, the fuse-grafted, holly tree. These plants are just in the beginning stages, but the techniques will be quite evident when seen in the photos.

redneck grower: ... thanks for the explanation. I was amazed at what can be done as far as shaping, bending, grafting living trees. Some of the stuff is really wild!

I would like to tried to do 3 or 4 trees together with 15/20 inch suckers from the bottom of fig trees.

If any one would be kind enough please send them to me at
351 Nicholson Drive, Saint Gabrile La. 70776
kindly wrap the bottoms in wet paper. Thanks

Reason why I am asking is that I do not get out as
I am a care giver for my wife.

Thanks God Bless

Here are a few pics of a fused Ficus trunk.
http://fusionbonsai.com/