Golden Rain Tree sapplings - help?

When I first decided to buy the house where I now live, there was a beautiful Golden Rain Tree in the front yard. I had to be away for quite a while, and when I got back to move into the house found that the tree (which had been growing "lop-sided" had split during a bad storm and they'd cut it down. The ground-level stump started putting up shoots, so I decided to let them grow and see what happens. I now have three good, "full," little trees (they've grown almost 5' tall during this one Summer!) growing within inches of one another (have kept others out). I want to twist the little trees together so they will grow into one (very interesting and - hopefully - stronger) tree. QUESTION: Can I do that? If so, when and how? I've always loved the trees but have never had one, so would be very grateful for any suggestions.
Thanks, and wishing well to all
Donna

You can.
Start as soon as possible, when the sprouts are still flexible. It is OK if the initial braiding is a bit loose, the 3 trunks will grow in diameter and fill in.

Here in UK there are a lot of Topiary plants grown in this fashion, we call it plating, like kids hair pigtails, it's used on things like Box, Bay, and have seen a most spectacular Wisteria grown with the trunks /Stems plated in that way.
I did try this out many years ago years ago, try it on 3 Fuchsia's that I had grown for the use as standards and all was well for about 2 years, as the plating only JUST began to take shape so you could actually see the beginning of a plate, along came a storm and broke the darn thing at the base.
I was heart broken because I had already had the end results in my dreams LOL, that'll teach me eh!!!!. Never get too far up on yourself.
When I cam across this magnificent Wisteria in Botanical gardens I made enquiries and was informed : Start off giving the plants a stout support, (has to be stout as it's to be in place for a good number of years) Loosely place a tie LOOSELY around the top of each stem UNDER the top branches that make up the lolly-pop / globe top shape, keep it loose and soft cord / string is needed so it cant cut into the stems allowing disease in.

next wind / twist the soft pliable stems / trunks around the stake (a round broom handle cut down would suit) never force the branches / trunks, or they will split and never twist them tight, as said before, they need room to expand and grow, specially in growing season when the sap rises and trunks expand.

each time you twist / wrap or turn each stem, you need to untie it, bend it into position, you tie it off again, even IF it's only been moved an inch, do each trunk the same but DONT untie them all at once. just move them individually.
You should only use the stems when pliable, if left to go hard, they dont bend but they do split.
These ready made Topiary plants are very expensive and the time, the work and the patience it all takes dictated the high cost, it is done over years BUT boy, what a delight it must / will be to get this completed and successfully achieved.
please dont try outsmart the task and try speed up the slow process or like my effort, it will fail, I should have known to stake the 3 Fuchsias, I stupidly thought one would support the other as they grew. Oh by the way, make sure you keep the top growth small till the actually topiary reaches the height you require or it will become way too heavy as the flowering part will droop downwards causing strain on a short plant, as it is not yet strong enough to give support, make sure the ties are around the support and NOT the trunks.


Hope this works out for you and maybe in about 10 years time you can win prizes with it.
Very best of luck, Have fun and take it easy.
Kindest regards.
WeeNel.

Forgot to inform you NOT to allow side branches to form, rub the little buds OFF the stems, hardened side branches will prevent the twisting to be neet and will spoil the look, just leave the odd leaf to help encourage sap to rise and feed the top of the plant for flowering and growing.
Sorry about this.
Good luck. WeeNel

If you investigate espalier, pleaching, arborsculpture, you may get ideas for future projects.

(Native) entities that are known to inosculate are the best candidates.

Now I know what to do. :-) (To WeeNel about the Wisteria; my mother (many years ago) created a beautiful "Wisteria tree." That's what gave me the idea to try it with the little Golden Rain trees.) I apologize about taking so long to get back here; having cataract surgeries and can't be on the comp very much until both eyes are done and healed.

THANKS TO ALL !!
Anybody in the Greenfield MO, US, area want some little Golden Rain Trees ? They just keep popping up.... (Actually in some areas, particularly in the Southeastern US, they're often considered to be a "problem" tree/plant, but not in this area.)

Be well
Donna

Speedy recovery Donna, hope your better and stronger so you can enjoy the remainder of the summer. I feel sure your little Golden Rain Tree's will wait for you a little longer.

Enjoy your new project.
Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.

To WeeNel: I was born a Ferguson (Glasgow area). lol The little trees are now taller than I am, and might be too old and "woody" to start "playing" with; I'll prune them in Autumn and see what happens because they're, already, starting to try to grow together at base. There's already a stake beside them because, when the old tree was cut down, someone drove an iron fence-post into the stump in order to avoid running over it with a lawn mower. I'm letting four new little trees grow; in case these are too woody in Spring, I'll cut them down and work with the younger ones. Given the rate at which they grow, I doubt it'll be a problem.... :-)

Recovery? The surgeries were "next to nothing" and my vision is now better than it was when I was much younger! (My eyes just won't like the comp much until they heal entirely. That takes about a month.) If You ever need to do it, no need to be afraid; IT'S WONDERFUL !!

Thank You, and be well
Donna