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Italian cypress leaning - help
Athelas
Posts: 946
Just bought a house and planning to rent it out -- I hadn't paid attention to the trees in the small courtyard garden until we got the keys yesterday 
I think these are Italian cypress, and two are growing at a slant probably due to the prevailing wind. When I looked closer I realised they had only been tied with flimsy string (that had already broken in a couple of places) to the fence behind them.
Should I stake them, if so any tips? I've never had tall trees before. I'll also ask for advice at my local GC, but is there an online shop where you'd recommend buying stakes?
Or should I take them out? There's a third smaller one beside them.
I think these are Italian cypress, and two are growing at a slant probably due to the prevailing wind. When I looked closer I realised they had only been tied with flimsy string (that had already broken in a couple of places) to the fence behind them.
Should I stake them, if so any tips? I've never had tall trees before. I'll also ask for advice at my local GC, but is there an online shop where you'd recommend buying stakes?
Or should I take them out? There's a third smaller one beside them.
Cambridgeshire, UK
0
Posts
It was the previous owner (who lived in the house some years) who planted them -- the house was brand new at the time; looking at other houses it appears it was originally all just turf. From talking to her before the sale, she absolutely loved those trees.
Renters probably don't want a lot (or any) work to do to maintain a garden with exception maybe of mowing a lawn. It depends on who they are, I suppose. Probably best to just put some gravel over the soil or bark chippings as a mulch, if birds don't flick it over the paving. If renters want to buy containers and plant those up, that's no problem for you.
Do your neighbours and yourself a favour and just don't put bamboo there!
You might be able to get a stake in either side with a cross bar to tie the tree to.
I expect there is a proper name for that sort of tree support
The tree on the left looks to be planted in the same narrow border and that looks very healthy as do the cypress trees.
Hey, if I an throw a rib eye on a tall tree to make it stay upright in the wind, I'm game.
There are actually *five* more Italian cypress trees, as can be seen on this Rightmove photo since I haven’t had a chance to return to the property this week. They aren’t leaning, have no support, all seem healthy. Would you take them all out? Could I offer the trees for free or for sale to people who may want them?
@K67 with the way the trunks are now curved, I think cutting the tops off would make the two trees in my first post look odd, so I’m leaning towards removing them — but now wondering if I should remove all of the cypress trees.