flimsy floppy trees

Joey Meister

so i have a couple trees, one being a cotton wood the other being a weeping birch, the cottonwood was planted a year ago from a 6 inch stick i ordered by mail, it is now close to 8 feet tall but is really flimsy, if i do not stake it it flops over in the wind. the birch is the same height. not sure the age as i bought it from a nursery. it does the same thing, is this normal, should i let them flop or keep them staked?

Brent Ferris

Normally trees are loosely staked for one to two years, depending on growth habit. Letting them flop will give you a unique growth habit you probably won't like.

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Garry Brockley

it sounds like you have had the stakes verticle and on for too long, what you can try is two taller stakes either side a meter apart and a tree strap holding it in place while it builds up the required latteral strength if its still having problems install another two stakes making a cross so it is held loosely in both directions.
take some pics show us what you have done and keep posting their progress.

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Joey Meister

i re-staked the trees,i had just one stake on each tree tied with stretch tree ties. so i removed them and staked them the way you suggested, i think i did it right but here are some before and after shots. the birch needed 4 stakes cause it i really flexible and weak, the cottonwood only needed two, the stakes have some give which will allow the trees to still bend in the event of high winds.

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Garry Brockley

Thats a really good job, this is another way you can do it

keep us up dated as to how they get on as the seasons pass and they grow

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Brent Ferris

It is important that the tree(s) can sway in the breeze -- as you did -- so the trunk can form the tissues necessary to withstand windy conditions,

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

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Joey Meister

Just a little update on how they are doing, I took the stakes off last fall before leaf drop, both trees were fine and could stand on their own, the cottonwood is still doing good, but the birch produces lots of seed pods and I do not think it can support the weight of all them as it is bending again, so i removed about half the pods and re-staked it like last year.

Brent Ferris

Any pics?

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)

Joey Meister

Here a couple pictures. first is of the birch, second the seed pods on it, and the last one is the cottonwood, which really took off after i staked it last year.

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Brent Ferris

It looks like your cottonwood is growing 2-3 feet a year - normal growth. Is there room for a big tree is this location. They normally top out at about 120 ft. There birch looks good. While the fruit probably seemed excessive, when it matures it is very light, and birch branches very supple. BUt removing some this year wouldn't hurt either.

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)