Braiding Shrub Trunks

[bushdoctor82]

Anyone have any experience braiding/twisting trunks of shrubs or other plants? Each Summer, I remove countless seedlings of Rose of Sharon from lawn areas and last year attempted to create twisted trees. Originally, there was a third seedling spiraling about, but was strangled off by Fall. Lucky for me, each seedling wound up producing different colored flowers. Before I plant or give away, I’m wondering if there are any pitfalls I should keep an eye out for. Will they fuse together or strangle each other? Should I attempt to loosen the twists, etc.?

 

[Figgerlickinggood]

Looks like a great way to save space

 

[goodnessatlanta]

It looks like the twisting is helping them to stand on their own but will they shook each other as they grow big?

 

[GoodFriendMike]

I would guess they would fuse together.
I have a big oak in my back yard that started out as three trees.
One died and the other two fused together.
The trunk on it is massive.

 

[Figgerlickinggood]

I would guess they would fuse together.
I have a big oak in my back yard that started out as three trees.
One died and the other two fused together.
The trunk on it is massive.

I’d love to see a picture of that.

 

[ktrain]

Never done it, but I see those at HD...there is a small gap so I'm not sure what would happen in the long run.
Those look good.