my silver birch is bent!

A silver birch was top of my wish list for years but I'm devastated that after five years my beloved tree is growing with a badly curved trunk!

It is subject to some strong winds here 'oop north'! but neighbours' trees don't seem to be bent at all so what have I done wrong - or do some trees just have a curved habit. And is there anything much I can do about it now? This year it's got to the height of the guttering on my house.

Any suggestions or reassurances would be gratefully received!!

[ 15. June 2005, 11:25 PM: Message edited by: michaelmasdaisy ]

 

:eek: Gutter level!
Do hope it's not that close to the house.

 

Perhaps you should chop it down and start again with a new tree!

 

Perhaps you should make a feature of it I'm sure no one else will have one that can compare!!

 

I know the feeling well - I'm also struggling to keep a silver birch straight that I have grown from seed. I know why mine is bending and it not the wind, but the light. It was kinda overtaken by some hawthorn. First answer was to move it forward, so that it wasn't quite so overshadowed, second answer was to stake it and support the trunk against the stake. Its a lot straighter than it was

 

Thanks for that, Fran. Nice to know I'm not the only one!

I have been supporting it with ever bigger stakes but to no avail. And this winter, despite two big angled poles, the bad winds we've had simply caused both straps to snap! I suppose I should think myself fortunate that it is actually leaning towards the centre of the garden which is reasonably aesthetic.

(And no, Paladin - it's not that close to the house!!!! )

[ 17. June 2005, 10:23 PM: Message edited by: michaelmasdaisy ]

 

Well if its pleasing to the eye, fine and I find wind shaped trees quite attractive (though not in my garden) - if not move it to somewhere else in the garden a tad more sheltered.

 

Delighted to report - almost a year on! - that though the lowest part of my tree has a curve, the majority of it is now reaching for the skies straight as an arrow!!

 

Good to hear MD

 

Proving the old adage that "all things come to those who wait" (long enough)!

 

:rolleyes: