Ash bower

[Sylvia]

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Roger Deakin - Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees, Heartwood

Listened to this the other day - at about 10m51s he talks about "grafting" ash trees together to make a living structure - how? any simple "how to" anywhere online or is it beyond amateurs?

If it involves cutting bark does this increase ash dieback risk?

[woodyguy]

Many trees will self-graft where two branches rub together. It's easy. You just need to shave off a bit of bark on both branches where they cross. tie them together for a year and you've got your graft. Finding a couple of suitable branche isn't so easy though.

If ash die back is in your area, then your trees are fire wood anyway.

[sandspider]

Worth reading Roger's books - reference is made to the ash arches and lots of other things. Not so much a how to of grafting, but a good read anyway.

[timbernut]

Ironic that Ash was the last chapter of the book, he was a great writer.