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Mr Grinch's Garden

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

Page 85 of 101
  1. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    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:
     
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      ARMANDII, Mar 18, 2015
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    • Mr Grinch

      Mr Grinch Total Gardener

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      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:
       
      Mr Grinch, Mar 19, 2015
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    • Sheal

      Sheal Total Gardener

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      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.
       
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        Sheal, Mar 19, 2015
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      • Mr Grinch

        Mr Grinch Total Gardener

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        Will staking other than the bamboo cane help it to straighten ? Just the trunk at the bottom.
         
        Mr Grinch, Mar 19, 2015
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      • Sheal

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        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.
         
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          Sheal, Mar 19, 2015
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        • ARMANDII

          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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          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:
           
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            ARMANDII, Mar 19, 2015
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          • Mr Grinch

            Mr Grinch Total Gardener

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            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.
             
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              Mr Grinch, Mar 19, 2015
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            • ARMANDII

              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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              Patience, patience:whistle:,............there's a lot at stake there!!:heehee:
               
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                ARMANDII, Mar 19, 2015
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              • Sheal

                Sheal Total Gardener

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                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.
                 
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                  Sheal, Mar 19, 2015
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                • Mr Grinch

                  Mr Grinch Total Gardener

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                  Patience me ?? Nah :rolleyespink:
                   
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                    Mr Grinch, Mar 20, 2015
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                  • Sheal

                    Sheal Total Gardener

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                    Then perhaps you shouldn't be a gardener. :heehee:
                     
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                      Sheal, Mar 20, 2015
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                    • Lolimac

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                      I know the feeling Mr G:doh:
                       
                      Lolimac, Mar 21, 2015
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                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                      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.
                       
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                        shiney, Mar 21, 2015
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                      • Mr Grinch

                        Mr Grinch Total Gardener

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                        [​IMG]

                        G
                         
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                          Mr Grinch, Mar 23, 2015
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                        • ARMANDII

                          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                          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:
                           
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                            ARMANDII, Mar 23, 2015
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