Rowan Tree

[Cassie]

Hi, some advice please I am trying to grow a Rowan tree from a small seedling I picked up on a walk by my local reservoir, it was growing out of the top of a fence post, didn't look like it had much of a future so I brought it home as I wanted to put it in my woodland, there are several seedlings in precarious places by the reservoir. It's healthy and has bolted, still only about 2 feet high but it's leggy and needs support or will fall over, is there anything I can do to encourage this little plant to grow into a strong healthy tree? I'm keeping it as a single stem as I don't want it to turn into a bush.
Thanks

[trs]

Hi Cassie

Not sure what other people do but I've grown a few Rowans from seed and pretty much leave them to do their own thing with minimal interference. I tend to keep them in the garden in a shady/semi shady spot (i.e. out of direct sunlight and strong winds) and only water them if it's been a while since the last rainfall (talking a week or so). There seems to be different schools of thought on stake size, height, position etc but when they get a bit leggy, I loosely tie them to a small stake about a third of the way up the tree. This provides stability but gives the tree the chance to move a little, which helps to strengthen the trunk. My stakes are generally sized to a third of the height of the tree and angled across the trunk. As I said there are probably many ways to look at this, but this works for me .

I'm at work at the moment, but I'll dig out a pic when I get home and post it to show one of mine (third generation from seed and about 3 years old).

Tony

EDIT:
The wonders of modern technology .

One on the left no longer needs the stake and is approx. 8 foot high. One on the right is still a bit leggy but is thickening up nicely at the base. Stake detail as explained above and shown below.

and finally ... the Nursery

Pic3.jpg (126.6 KiB) Viewed 10044 times

Hope this helps

[Cassie]

Thank you Tony that was very helpful and the pictures were also a great help, I will loosen the ties and continue to support it but other than that leave it alone

[trs]

You are welcome.

Good luck with it

Tony