Tree shaping

thumb|Topiary animal in Tulcán, Ecuador

right|thumb|A horizontal espalier right|thumb|Free-standing espaliered fruit trees (step-over) at Standen, [[West Sussex. The trees are used to create a fruit border or low hedge.]] Espalier ( or ) is the horticultural and ancient agricultural practice of controlling woody plant growth for the production of fruit, by pruning and tying branches to a frame. Plants are frequently shaped in formal patterns, flat against a structure such as a wall, fence, or trellis. The term is also used to refer to plants which have been shaped in this way.

Type of pedestrian bridge made with live tree roots

use of living trees to create structures and art

thumb|Structure made with plane trees for the Baden-Württemberg State Horticultural Show in Nagold Baubotanik is a building method in which architectural structures are created through the interaction of technical joints and plant growth. The term entails the practice of designing and building living structures using living plants. In this regard, living and non-living elements are intertwined in such a way that they grow together into plant-technical composite structures.

A Hedgelaying|hedge laid using pleaching|thumb Pleaching or plashing is a technique of interweaving living and dead branches through a hedge creating a fence, hedge, or lattices. Trees are planted in lines and the branches are woven together to strengthen and fill any weak spots until the hedge thickens. Branches in close contact may grow together, due to a natural phenomenon called inosculation, a natural graft. Pleach also means weaving thin, whippy stems of trees forming a basketry effect.