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Katsura tree developing strong lean

HannaBananaHannaBanana Posts: 11
in Problem solving
Help!

I have a Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Katsura tree) which I planted a year ago. I appears healthy and vigorous, but growing with a strong lean to the side (on the picture it’s the ‘stick’ - it’s dropped its leaves by now, but you can see how it is supported). 

The tree is supported with two stakes and a figure of eight tree tie. 

The clematis tumbling over it is very recent - it had the lean long before this. 

Can I correct this? What’s going on? My other trees and shrubs aren’t growing in this direction! 

Apologies for the flipped picture - can’t work out how to edit!


Posts

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I've turned your photo for you, which may help with advice!


    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • HannaBananaHannaBanana Posts: 11
    Ah - if only! I know what variety it is - Boyd’s Dwarf - which should be a small but upright one! 
  • HannaBananaHannaBanana Posts: 11
    pansyface said:
    I’d put a stout stake in next to it and tie it in at regular intervals to make it “stand up straight”! 🙂
    So a stake that’s almost as tall as the tree? I’ve only ever done stakes about halfway up the trunk and never had this problem before! 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Is the tree in shade for part of the day?  I’m just pondering on the possibility that although it’s a dwarf type it may be growing faster/taller than it should if it’s not in an open sunny spot
     (ie becoming etiolated) and is thinner and more bendy/flimsy than it would otherwise be.

     Is that a possibility?

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





  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I think it can only be caused by it growing towards the light.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • HannaBananaHannaBanana Posts: 11
    Thank you all. I wouldn’t have thought that there isn’t enough sunlight - there are roses and ceanothus growing happily behind it - but the lean is towards the southern corner of the garden - so perhaps. I think I will try staking it as suggested by @pansyface and hope that it can correct itself - I’d be so sad to take it out! 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Are there any other stems appearing at the base of the plant or have they been removed perhaps? According to the GW article below,

    "This tree naturally develops several leading shoots which all form an upright shape, so don’t thin them out or attempt to grow the tree with a single main stem."


    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-katsura-tree/


    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


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