Page 11 - 3 Methods of Tree Shaping

• Repeatable designs - With this method it is easy to test and modify a
design until you have learned tree lore or you can grow other people’s
proven designs to save years of testing.

• Change of perspective - With this method a whole new world of possibili- Gradual tree shaping
ties opens to you and the landscape. Grow chairs, tables, living art or a
living play ground for the kids. Maybe you could grow an art project for

your town.
• A living legacy - By choosing a long lived tree species you could leave a

living legacy of your creation to be enjoyed by the people of the future.
Some trees can easily live 500 years and some species are believed to
live as long as 4000 years.

• Cheap to start - As this method starts with seedlings or cuttings, these are
easy to get from friends/family or cheaply at the local nursery.

• Book/Website -There is a book detailing the Pooktre step by step
process titled “Knowledge to Grow Shaped Trees” or you can go to
Dr Cattle’s Website for some good information. www.grown-furniture.
co.uk

Cons of Gradual Tree shaping

• Frequent training - The complexity of the design dictates the frequency of
training this could be as frequent as twice a day or only once a week or

more before the tree needs shaping. This could prevent you from going
away from home for extended periods.
• People don’t notice the shaped tree - Depending on the size of the design,

it can take years before people notice the shaped trees. In the beginning
the trees aren’t noticed and aren’t photogenic as they are too thin and blend

into the background. It is only as they gain girth are they noticed and gain
attention. You need to believe this will happen until others can see your
results.

• Can take many years to learn a species tree lore - At the time of creating
this article there were very few tree shapers in the world, so the experience
with different tree species at this time is very limited. Our book “Knowledge

to Grow Shaped Trees” is a seed, which details the Pooktre process of
shaping trees gradually. People will grow and expand this knowledge,
giving a larger pool of tree lore. In time this particular disadvantage will

disappear.

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