Question
Help! With this latest wind and rain one of my 20 Italian Cypress has leaned over so far and I am unsure how to restake it. Should it be dug up and restaked or can I just pull it back upright?
Valerie
San Mateo
Answer
I'm not sure if you are asking about a 20 foot tall cypress or 20 individual cypress trees. Assuming it is one tall tree, the best avenue would be to try and straighten the tree up while the ground is still soft. The tree will be difficult to dig up as a tree that size will have a substantial root mass.  Two 6-8 foot stakes driven into the ground on the wind side of the tree should be sufficient to stabilize it. Use a galvanized, braided wire to attach the tree to the stakes. A short piece of hose or rubber tubing will protect the trunk of the tree from the wire. Be sure to attempt to pull the tree upright by applying pressure low on the trunk. If you push or pull too high, you run the risk of breaking the trunk. If you feel this process is beyond your capabilities, I would highly recommend that you contact a garden professional or tree specialist.
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