Mr Grinch's Garden

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Mr Grinch, Jan 14, 2012.

  1. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Messages:
    48,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +100,838
    It doesn't have to be an actual ramp, Mr "G". I do have a sloping shallow shelf, admittedly, in my pond but a stone with the top just below the surface, or a brick, etc will do the job. Perhaps a flat surface supported underneath so that it is an inch of two below the water?.:dunno::coffee::snork:
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Mr Grinch

      Mr Grinch Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jan 14, 2012
      Messages:
      1,123
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Rayleigh, Essex
      Ratings:
      +1,359
      My Silver Birch is bent. Very irritating and not sure how i can rectify it. It was planted a year ago and doing well, so 6 months ago took out the supporting bamboo cane. It then bent and i have been unable to straighten it. I've staked it, this helps but once the stake is taken away, it goes back. Irritating :wallbanging::wallbanging::wallbanging::wallbanging:
       
    • Sheal

      Sheal Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Feb 2, 2011
      Messages:
      35,981
      Gender:
      Female
      Location:
      Dingwall, Ross-shire
      Ratings:
      +53,889
      I would leave the stake in for at least three years Mr. Grinch, a young tree will struggle to support itself when it's windy. I have a seven year old Malus tree that is still staked.
       
      • Agree Agree x 2
      • Mr Grinch

        Mr Grinch Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Jan 14, 2012
        Messages:
        1,123
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Rayleigh, Essex
        Ratings:
        +1,359
        Will staking other than the bamboo cane help it to straighten ? Just the trunk at the bottom.
         
      • Sheal

        Sheal Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Feb 2, 2011
        Messages:
        35,981
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        Dingwall, Ross-shire
        Ratings:
        +53,889
        A bamboo cane isn't strong enough to give support to any young tree. A 2 x 2" stake would be best and a round one would stop any chafing in the wind. You say it's bent at the bottom, are you talking about the area where it's grafted, as usually there will be a natural kink there anyway.
         
        • Agree Agree x 2
        • Like Like x 1
        • ARMANDII

          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

          Joined:
          Jan 12, 2019
          Messages:
          48,096
          Gender:
          Male
          Ratings:
          +100,838
          Yep, but only over time. You don't want to strain the roots or trunk by applying to much force. Get a soft rubber or plastic set of ties and put a 2" X 1" stake into the ground at an angle and gently put pressure on the trunk via the ties in the direction you want the trunk to go.:coffee::snork:
           
          • Like Like x 3
          • Mr Grinch

            Mr Grinch Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Jan 14, 2012
            Messages:
            1,123
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Rayleigh, Essex
            Ratings:
            +1,359
            The baby tree came with the cane. Basically it was keeping the trunk dead straight. I planted, left the cane in and also staked it with a 2x2 using the rubber ties. After 6 months i took the cane out but left the stake. Unfortunately the base of the trunk bent, ad is not not straight but curved, so i re staked making the tree upright but that curve is still there but not as bad as it was. Today i took the stake out to see and the tree reverted back, so i have re staked it upwards again. All i wanted to know was if i left it for long enough now, would the tree stay upright or would it revert once the stake goes.
             
            • Informative Informative x 1
            • ARMANDII

              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

              Joined:
              Jan 12, 2019
              Messages:
              48,096
              Gender:
              Male
              Ratings:
              +100,838

              Patience, patience:whistle:,............there's a lot at stake there!!:heehee:
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • Funny Funny x 1
              • Sheal

                Sheal Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Feb 2, 2011
                Messages:
                35,981
                Gender:
                Female
                Location:
                Dingwall, Ross-shire
                Ratings:
                +53,889
                Leave the stake in place Mr. Grinch, as Armandii says you need to be patient. :) The trunk needs to build some strength and at least double or treble in size to be able to do that and support itself. If you keep removing it - it will set the tree back again.
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • Agree Agree x 1
                • Mr Grinch

                  Mr Grinch Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Jan 14, 2012
                  Messages:
                  1,123
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Location:
                  Rayleigh, Essex
                  Ratings:
                  +1,359
                  Patience me ?? Nah :rolleyespink:
                   
                  • Funny Funny x 1
                  • Sheal

                    Sheal Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Feb 2, 2011
                    Messages:
                    35,981
                    Gender:
                    Female
                    Location:
                    Dingwall, Ross-shire
                    Ratings:
                    +53,889
                    Then perhaps you shouldn't be a gardener. :heehee:
                     
                    • Like Like x 1
                    • Funny Funny x 1
                    • Lolimac

                      Lolimac Guest

                      Ratings:
                      +0
                      I know the feeling Mr G:doh:
                       
                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                      Joined:
                      Jul 3, 2006
                      Messages:
                      62,939
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Occupation:
                      Retired - Last Century!!!
                      Location:
                      Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                      Ratings:
                      +122,455
                      You definitely need to keep the stake there for a few years otherwise it will revert to bending.

                      Don't be surprised if the tree grows slightly slower than it may say in the books. Recent research has shown that if you stake a tree it grows slightly slower as the roots don't need to do so much work. If a tree is allowed to blow around in the wind it puts out a lot more roots to try and stabilise itself but can grow at an angle.
                       
                      • Like Like x 2
                      • Agree Agree x 1
                      • Informative Informative x 1
                      • Mr Grinch

                        Mr Grinch Total Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Jan 14, 2012
                        Messages:
                        1,123
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Location:
                        Rayleigh, Essex
                        Ratings:
                        +1,359
                        [​IMG]

                        G
                         
                        • Like Like x 1
                        • Friendly Friendly x 1
                        • ARMANDII

                          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

                          Joined:
                          Jan 12, 2019
                          Messages:
                          48,096
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Ratings:
                          +100,838
                          Nearly right, Mr "G":heehee: The idea is for the stake to be a fairly long term item and so it has to take the pressure of the soft straps and also the pressure from the tree itself which has been trying to go in a direction you didn't want it to. Which is why the stake should really go in at an angle because it then resists the increasing pressure as the tree become taller and thicker much more efficiently.:dunno::snork: I know it's convenient to have the stake vertical as you can put the soft straps on more easily but in that position it's vulnerable to the side pressure from the growing tree.:wallbanging::heehee: Don't forget to check the soft straps every so often to make sure they're not "cutting" into the trunk.:lolpt::whistle:
                           
                          • Like Like x 2
                          • Agree Agree x 1
                          Loading...

                          Share This Page

                          1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                            By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                            Dismiss Notice