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Leaning Cupressus Wilma Pyramid trees

big.stevobig.stevo Posts: 7
in Problem solving

Hi...In the spring/summer of 2020 we planted 3 Cupressus Wilma Pyramid conifers in a long raised bed in my front garden where they seemed to have flourished; despite their exposed position, increasing in size at least two or three times their original size.

Unfortunately back in February, during storm Eunice, the high cross winds caused two of the trees to lean over and we would like to know how we go about straightening and if possible how to stake the trees to stop them leaning again.

All help appreciated in advance. 


Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Hi @big.stevoand welcome to the forum 😊 

    The wind must’ve uprooted them a bit, so I’d simply straighten them back up again and firm them well in again. You’ll have to scrape back the gravel to do it properly and then replace it. 

    As for preventing it from happening again … I have no suggestions but perhaps others will have … hopefully storms like Eunice are still unusual events. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Is the bed very dry? I'm assuming it is because of the lavender, if it's thriving.
    Not ideal for any conifer, so if you can add a bit of heftier soil around them and firm them in well, it should help. They're shallow rooted. They need plenty of moisture -lots of it, but also good drainage. They may well be taking most of the moisture away from the lavender, but it might not work well long term.  They aren't often grown together, as they wouldn't normally be suited in terms of growing conditions.  
    If the conifers are growing quite readily, be prepared to start trimming to prevent them completely taking over.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • big.stevobig.stevo Posts: 7
    edited March 2022
    Thank-you both for your inputs, @Fairygirl, the bed isn't that dry actually despite its location and all the lavender and is not usually as windy as one might think, storm Eunice being quite an unusual event and we knew when we planted them, that we would have to trim them to keep control of their height...and I agree @Dovefromabove, I think its going to be a case of just straightening them up and hoping for the best and then working out a safe way of staking them...perhaps by creating a small three legged frame around them until they are better rooted...thanks once again to you both anyway, your advice is much appreciated.
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