Growing Success | Growing strong, one tree at a time

By Riverside Gardens

Jan 4, 2024

Addition by subtraction: Thin out the new regrowth or shorten it down to allow the new forks to strengthen. Photo by Contributed

Larry Smith and the Riverside Gardens team talk all things pots, plants and pruning in their new weekly gardening column.

Well, the storms over the past few days have really been trying for the horticulturists of the Goulburn Valley. Whether it be fruit growers or home gardeners, most have endured damage to their plants.

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Hail stripping leaves from trees and damaging fruit, grounds becoming waterlogged, trees falling over, branches being broken; it is hard to compete with the forces of Mother Nature.

It also emphasises the importance of growing a tree correctly and staking young trees and susceptible plants.

Young trees should be grown slowly by trimming and shaping them as they grow.

Prune back long, lanky growth; this helps to develop strong branching forks before putting too much weight and stress on them.

Avoid tight, narrow forks, as these tend not to grow as strong a union and may fail as the tree matures.

Don’t be afraid to remove weak or spindly growth or to thin out the shoots to open up the tree’s canopy.

Young trees do require staking in the first few years; this is as much about holding the root ball still as it is about preventing damage to the trunk of the tree.

To stake a tree correctly:

1. Place two or three sturdy stakes evenly around the tree, far enough away to be in undisturbed soil.

2. Hammer them in far enough to be solid and still be about three-quarters as high as the tree.

3. Using a soft, flat material, tie in a figure eight from the stake around the trunk and back to the same stake.

4. Repeat for each stake, pulling even tension on each stake so that the trunk is held steady.

Using this method, the tree can sway slightly in the wind, but the root ball is still held in the ground, stopping the new roots from tearing off.

Over the next two years, the stakes and ties should be checked regularly to ensure they are still doing their job and then removed once the tree looks established enough.

Plants like standard roses will always need to be staked, as their timber structure rarely has enough strength to carry the weight of the foliage on top.

Inevitably, in storms, plants are going to be damaged, and repair work will be required.

When removing broken branches, cut back to strong, healthy growth or buds, and if pulling back to the main stem, leave a short stub for the plant to callus over. All wounds should be cleaned up, and larger ones should be sprayed with a wound sealant.

Stand back and look at the overall balance of the remaining tree and consider if removing other foliage will benefit the overall shape.

Given a bit of help like this, healthy trees will often bounce back from damage quickly, as they have the root system to carry a larger amount of foliage than what is left.

Keeping this in mind, you may have to thin out the new regrowth or shorten it down to allow the new forks to strengthen.

Remember, if you need more clarification or require further information on storm repair for your garden, call in and have a chat. We are always here to help.