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Bendy fruit trees
josusa47
Posts: 3,530
in Fruit & veg
Three years ago I planted four fruit trees. They are tied to vertical stakes about a foot from the ground. They're 100-120cms tall, the lower trunks are straight but the tops are starting to slant away from the prevailing wind. Is it better to let nature take its course or should I put another tie higher up to keep them straight?
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I have an orchard on my allotment site, one of the apple trees had obviously fallen partially over at some point (possibly pushed over by flood waters - it's right next to a beck) the previous site owners had tied it up to stop it falling any further over,
cut to 10 years later when I get the plot, tree has 'set' into that position (stake had rotted away many years ago) I started renovation prunes on all the trees, the leaning one got more pruning on the 'downhill' side and is now nice and straight at the top with the trunk having a 45 degree lean to it.
I think it gives it character, but it is a bit of a nightmare to lawn mow around.