Tree shaping

An Arborsculpture by Richard Reames of the CND logo Titled "Peace in Cherry"

Arborsculpture is the art and technique of growing and shaping trunks, branches and roots of trees and other woody plants. By grafting, bending and pruning the woody trunks and or shaping branches to grow into shapes either ornamental or useful. Similar to espalier and possibly including some topiary for some projects. The word is a compound noun of the words arbor (Latin for tree) and sculpture.

The word Arborsculpture first appeared in the book How to Grow a Chair- The Art of Tree Trunk Topiary 1995 by Reames and Delbol. ISBN 0-9647280-0-1 Reames coined the word in an attempt to give a unifying name to the practice of shaping the growth of tree trunks into sculptural shapes. The word has since been used in media around the world, and appears in at least one published patent. The nascent word is not found in standard English dictionaries. Controversy exists about the branding of Arborsculpture as some of the practitioners he presents in his book ("Arborsculpture Solutions for a small planet") don't accept the term, or agree to be tagged by it, whereas others do.

Richard Reames was inspired by the works of Axel Erlandson to attempt his first experiments with growing trees in chairs, which lead him to writing his first book "How to grow a chair" before his experiments were mature.

Method

Arborsculpture relies on the ability of plants (trees) to be united together by approach grafting and the ability to retain a new shape when new layers of wood form to hold a desired shape.

Approach grafting is accomplished by wounding two or more parts of a tree or trees by cutting off the bark, to or past the cambium layer and then binding the wounded parts together so good contact is secure while the wounded tree parts grow together.

Stems or branches, are bent into shapes and temporarily braced for a year or more depending on the amount of resistance overcome. During that time, additional layers of wood grow. These new layers of wood act like a natural cast, keeping the Stem and branches in the new desired shape. The temporary bracing can be removed after the shape holds itself.

Pruning may be required to remove unwanted branches and direct the growth into the desired shape. Pruning may also redirect stem growth. A pruning cut above a Leaf or Node can steer the plant. If a leaf points to the right, then a cut above that leaf will produce new growth that grows to the right side. Likewise, a cut above a leaf pointing to the left, produces new growth that grows to the left.

Using these methods (also used in Arboriculture), items like benches, chairs, etc., can be formed from trees by bending, merging and manipulating Plant tissue.

Differences from topiary

Topiary may include the manipulation of stems, but is primarily the art and skill of producing shapes with leaves (foliage). By contrast, arborsculpture is primarily the practice of manipulating stems and bonding trees together by grafting. Arborsculpture may include some topiary effects, but topiary is not the primary feature and consideration of the practice as a whole.

Although its possible to use grafting for topiary, its use is rare.

Arborsculpture can include furniture and items that were constructed exclusively using plant growth and grafted plant tissue. These items can be severed from the roots or removed from the ground; no longer being living organisms. But topiary is virtually limited to live organisms (plants) with leaves.

Topiary almost always involves regular shearing and shaping of foliage, whereas arborsculpture projects can easily be formed without shearing.

Differences from espalier

Espalier is the horticultural technique of training trees through pruning and (or) grafting to make formal "two-dimensional" or single plane patterns with branches of trees or shrubs. But arborsculpture projects are not limited to a flat single plane, nor a pattern. Either technique may use species of trees which produce fruit. But espalier-trained trees are not known to be shaped into benches, mirror frames, table pedestles or woven pillars.

Differences from pleaching

Pleaching is more similar to arborsculpture than topiary or espalier. But pleaching is limited to flat planes and hedges, therefore it is not arborsculpture. If anything, a pleaching project could be an arborsculpture. If a person chose to weave and graft several trees into a flat hedge, that hedge would be one individual arborsculpture project. But pleaching does not include furniture and items made from live trees.

Differences from bonsai

Bonsai is an art of growing trees in pots and containers, using pruning techniques to keep the trees at a miniature size they also use copper wire to shape the tiny branches. Bonsai avoids woven branch patterns or branches bent to resemble identifiable shapes. A bonsai project is intended to appear as if a human had not shaped it; like representation of a miniature tree, if one could be found in the wild. Arborsculpture is almost the opposite concept, because the project shapes visually "announce" that a human had shaped it.

It is possible to make a miniature arborsculpture in a pot like Bonsai, and keep it reduced to miniature size. But if it were to resemble a pretzel for example, that would not be the true nature of "bonsai". It would just be a miniature arborsculpture in a pot or container. Even a flat slab of rock can work for a planting tray, with moss retaining the soil.

Tools

Pruning tools utilized by a pruning and arborsculpture specialist for cutting twigs and branches.

A set of bonsai tools, from left to right: leaf trimmer; rake with spatula; root hook; coir brush; concave cutter; knob cutter; wire cutter; small, medium, and large shears. Many of these are pruning tools which may also be employed to prune and develop Arborsculpture projects.

A few of the tools used in Arborsculpture are similar to those used by a Gardener, an Arborist, or a Horticulturist. These tools include handpruners (Secateur) and a pruning saw.

Far less common for Arborsculpture pruning tools are shears (Pruning shears or a Hedge trimmer), because those are used more often for topiary or a Hedge (barrier).

The tools, materials and items for bending and shaping are virtually unlimited - basically, whatever each "Arborsculpturist" chooses for bending, fastening and restraining. This could include wood boards, pipe, rope, wire, string, tape, etc.. Even an item like a metal patio bench could be used as a pattern or mold (Molding (process)).

Time required

The time to grow and construct an arborsculpture project varies, depending on the size of trees, the species rate of growth, cultivation conditions and the height of the design. It is possible to perform initial grafting and bending on a project in an hour (see peace-sign tree top right), removing tape or material that holds the grafting or shape in as little as 1 year and following up with minimal pruning thereafter.

Taller projects like the archway by Axel Erlandson may require 10 years or more to grow the trees tall enough to accomplish the grafting. Large trees could be bent into shape and grafted or bolted together in an afternoon.

Different styles of arborsculpture have different time requirements. When growing arborsculpture intended for harvesting and drying there is a defined point that the piece is finished. When growing a piece intended to stay alive it could be argued that the piece is never finished until it dies.

See also

• Topiary
• Espalier
• Pleaching
• John Krubsack
• Pooktre
• Axel Erlandson
• Fab Tree Hab: Living Home of Shaped Trees
• Gilroy Gardens: Home of the Circus Trees

External links

• Arborsculpture in Published Patent
• - History of the Tree Circus
• - Installations, Lectures, Art and Innovation
• - Technology and Art
• - KinderForest - Growing a Playground
• - An introduction to Arborsculpture
• - Richard Reames- Books, tools, installations, history and links
• GOOGLE-MAP:WORLDWIDE CONSTRUCTIONS OF LIVING TREES - Discover Living Constructions on Earth!