Me too, cutting shouldn't be necessary. It might speed things up but you might butcher the job. They look perfect as they are now. 

Hi Dave....

Thank-you very much. 

I just bought 7, tissue-cultured, FMV-free-(I hope)- "Black Mission" treelets from Florida Hill Nursery...so I could try pleaching/twisting/braiding, them together.

Another $60.00...gone!  I couldn't resist.  YOU DID THIS!!!  : )))

Frank

@ Bronx Frank

Now I remember you, you use to have another username on GW FF

That has been buggin me, If I remember correctly you used stainless screws in  your project!

Am I right....in fact I remember your old username (3 initals)

I used to be "effdeevee"---FDV---...but I couldn't use that username again.  That's right...now, I'm BronxFigs.  Glad I bugged you!  You (Dave,...not, Cecil)  just cost me 60 clams!

The stainless-steel method worked for about three years, until I forgot to water my trees, and I lost two of the three that were screwed together.  The remaining tree survived, and is doing well without the partners.  The bark started to fuse where contact was made, but upon reflection, Dave's method will work much better because the unlignified stems are much easier to manipulate, bend, and twist.  If the trees live, and I'm sure they will, they will eventually fuse together.  Growing in-ground will reduce the waiting time to a couple of seasons, especially if you let them grow rampant.  Trim them back to shape later.  I used screws because I started with stems that were fully lignified, and unbendable.  Softer stems will work better.

By the way, this method is used to fuse dozens of seedling (Ficus-Banyan), or, Trident Maple together so they will develop short, but very fat trunks, and eventually  are sold as Bonsai.  Of course they are trained to resemble larger trees in the process.  I've seen this done with Olive trees also.

This method can be exploited with trees that need pollinators to set fruit.  Think, two apple whips twisted together, or, pears...etc.

You have a good memory.

Frank

Thanks Frank

I think I do have a pretty good memory!
The stuff you and others are doing is what this great forum is all about!

Now where did I put that mouse....HEHE

Can't find the mouse....how about when you "lose" your keys?

I do this all the time, and I tear the house apart in a frustrated rage, because the keys where right there, on the coffee table two seconds ago...but, not there anymore.  After a few, choice, Bronx-profanities, I find the keys...on the coffee table.  Then, more Bronx-cheers.

Hey, what can I tell ya?  I'm gettin' senile, and fast!

Frank

Frank the same dog that bit you ate my aeros up!

Yes, Cecil...I am now, "A Man of a Certain Age"...a geezer!

Frank

HAHA    Bof of us

:-))  Gonna get us back on topic!  I am fermenting 2 of those huge mission figs that you all determined were Breba, bought from the market, and there are thousands of seeds.  They have to ferment for 2 days, then, the viable ones will have dropped to the bottom, and those will become my pleachers!

All the same age, but now, how far apart should I plant the little seedlings?  3 inches?  And when should I braid?  Not expecting great figs from this, but love the adventure!

Suzi

It came to me in a dream last night instead of cutting it take a piece of coarse sandpaper and where the limbs are tight together slide the sandpaper in between and give it a few back and fourth and that should remove just enough to make it perfect match up between the 2 trees ?? 

Frank, me and you have to hang out one day then I could show you how much trouble I can really get you into 

your fig buddy to the north dave

Suzi I believe the younger the better I would say when they get about 6" long I would start I wouldn't make any too severe bends but I think that young they would be flexible enough to braid quite nicely 

Dave...

It might be the other way around....but I have no doubt you can be dangerous!  I'll try anything, once.  I'm form Da-Bronx...not some quaint, everybody-smiles, New England, Conn. "village".  : ))))

We will meet...in due time,... in due time.

Frank

OK Dave!  6" it is.  They are bubbly and fermenting, and the viable seeds have dropped to the bottom of the dish.  I'll post a pic when they germinate and push their pretty heads through the soil.
Suzi

I know about you guys from the Bronx I've seen "A Bronx Tale" but obviously you've never been out to brunch with a New England guy that has a couple A Tall Latte With A Double Shot's Of Espresso under his belt it can get ugly real quick :-)

Dave....

You're too funny.

In due time....in due time....

F

Don't worry us guys from South Queens have our own connections...

Those guys in front on the sidewalk are not just for decoration. A cannoli in one hand and a fig tree in the other. LOL

Dominick  ha ha ha ....

A house I drive by has a fig that the folks got tired of ducking under to mow and just took the stems and braided up a tree out of a bush. The trunk looks like a massive version of one of those benjaminas now. They did this about four years ago with five 2" diameter branches and they are all fused into a great gnarly trunk now.

Witch....

How did they manage to bend such strong wood?

Please, please....take some photos, and especially some close shots of the trunk section.  I'd love to see this composite-trunk.

Thanks,

Frank

It shows how, with a little determination, a plant will do as you say!  I'd love to see those pictures too, and I might do the same with some of my multi-trunked figs that drive me nuts because they are so low!

Suzi

Remember, they are kin to rubber trees and also perhaps because figs grow so devilishly fast here that the wood is slower to harden. For example, I have a Jurupa from Jon that rooted this Spring and is already in a 15 gallon pot and standing 3' tall. Will get photos ya'll.

landscapewitch....

Thanks for offering to post some photos.

Frank