How to strengthen pencil pines with shallow roots?

Ripley16

About 3 years ago we planted pencil pines in a place where the roots haven’t been about to go very deep - we didn’t realise at the time. They haven’t grown very tall very fast and tend to lean. I’ve tied them to fences to try to give some support but they really went sideways in the recent storms in SE Queensland. Is there anything we can do to save them? I’ve read in a post here that cutting the tops off is not recommended. Any suggestions please?

JacobZ

Hi @Ripley16,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fabulous to have you with us.

Your pencil pines are struggling due to shallow roots and strong winds, but you can help them recover by encouraging deeper rooting and providing better support. 

The ties you have added will work well for now, but you might consider adding long hardwood stakes to the trunk of each affected tree. This will help anchor them more evenly along the trunk and relieve pressure from the mid-trunk caused by the tree bending.

Aerating compacted soil and adding organic matter will improve soil structure and encourage deeper root growth. Use a garden fork to mix compost in with the soil at the base of the tree. 

Water deeply roughly once a week to promote downward root growth. Deep watering less frequently will encourage the roots to chase the water down further into the soil, which will in turn anchor them much better than they currently are. You can also lightly mulch to retain moisture without suffocating roots.

A balanced, low-nitrogen fertiliser such as Richgro All Purpose Complete Garden Fertiliser in early Spring will also support steady growth.

With proper care, they should become more stable over time.

Allow me to tag @Noelle and @mich1972 to see what they think.

Jacob