[Prosno]

I have an account with a dozen or so emerald green arbs, on the tops I would say 70% are open and spreading. My question is this-I tied the top branches together so the arb has a nice point to the top again, is this safe for the plant? What have you done for this problem? Thanks ahead of time and Very nice site-tons of info.

[scott C]

Tying them together is about the only thing u can do except for cutting one of the leaders. Sometimes nipping back them back will keep them from being top heavy and falling over. Was this damage caused in the winter by snow? We often tie or clear tape the tops together for the winter to keep this from happening.

[Bill Schwab]

One of the nurseryman we went to in thr midwest used to tell me that iff you peel the bark off the inside of the branch tops in the two months that start with the letter A, when you tie them together, the branches will fuse together similarly to a graft. You have to make a fairly good fit, and tie them tight.l After a few years, the tops grow together. It is similar to growing the slpit bark of a maple together. You know, thos eugly frost cracks in maple bark? If you take your grafting knife on the rounded edges of the spit and scrape the bark away in the two months starting with the letter A, it will grow together after a few seasons . Same philosophy with the arbs.

[GLAN]

Very interesting Bill......and makes alot of sense

Thanks.....I can certainly give that a try next April.