Flopping Sorbus Vilmorinii
Hi,
We planted a Sorbus Vilmorinii 18 months ago to give some much needed height to our garden. It is a tall, 'whippy' sapling - c.15 feet tall i reckon, is only about 2-3 inches in diameter at base and has a short stake currently supporting it. Although there are a number of side branches they are relatively short and immature. All was fine with it until the last 3 or so months, when it has come into full leaf/flower/berries, and has flopped about half way up - so bottom half is vertical but top half is horizontal although tree is looking very healthy. The trunk does not appear to be damaged and if I support it with my hand the top half does go vertical once more if that makes sense!
So my question please is what best to do:
a) Leave it be, and hope that once leaves/berries go in Autumn it rights itself and/or once roots get stronger to support it
b) Put in a long stake to support the trunk higher up (but someone said to me that this would mean that this discourages the roots to spread and support tree)
c) Prune off top half and hope that slower growth will result in more balanced/stable tree (but i fear that taking out lead/only shoot will result in a dwarf tree which I dont want)
d) something else?!
Any advice would be much appreciated as i dont want a wonky tree! 
Thank you!
Matt
Posts
It sounds as though you originally bought a poor quality tree as it should be relatively self supporting after such as short time. Trees are best staked only half way up the stem the tree will then thicken the stem naturally - after all the trees in the wild are not staked! Support the tree through this summer and into autumn and sometime during the winter or early spring cut back the head perhaps by taking out the leader this will help to create a balanced head lower down the stem. Sprinkle slow release fertilizer around the rootball and water if necessary in spring to help promote new growth - good luck