Hello everyone. I hope winter is finally gone.
I would like to try braiding two or three fig trees.
Should I buy short trees to braid or taller ones? I think they should be young so they are flexible.
I don't know, so I hope someone can give me some suggestions.
Thank you and Happy Easter!

Valerie, if I wanted to do what you want to do, I would root cuttings making sure they had equal vigor, put three rooted, sprouted cuttings in one 5 gallon container and as the sprouts grew, I'd braid them, and pinch off any new sprouts coming from the soil or the trunks.  What you want is 3 trunks that you can braid with NO branches.  Do not pinch the growth tip.  Key is, either use ONE variety, or 3 that have equal vigor. 

Suzi

I've not tried braiding but take care if trying to bend new growth as it can be brittle and likely to snap. When the wood ages it becomes more flexible. If you wait too long though it will become too thick.

Thanks for the great advice, DesertDance and Mic!

Saw this recently and was impressed.

That is impressive! Thanks for sharing.

here is one i did a few years ago its just starting to grow together nicely its actually called "pleaching"   

     

Very nice, Dave. What type of trees did you use to preach and how old were they when you first started?
Yours looks so nice.

That should say pleach, not preach, sorry about that.

I don't remember about 6 or 7 months old it was an LSU Gold and a local unknown , this year I will be working on structuring the branches 

Thanks, Dave.