yes they do get top heavy and using a stick like you is what I do.

Did it perk up after watering?

I live in Georgia, so it actually gets too much water if I leave it out in the rain. I have started checking the soil moisture regularly and putting the plant under my porch to keep it dry if it starts raining (which it does frequently here in Georgia). I think it is possible that the plant was too wet when it drooped. So hard to predict the rain here! But the stick is working. Thanks!

Sometimes they grow quickly and the wood is soft and green. During this time frame I typically use supports until the wood ages.

It could also be a sign of under watering. They do need alot of water during hot months.

You can buy rebar in 2, 4, 6, 8 feet sections at lowes.. I would use something solid like this to use until it hardens off. Some of my trees will bend in the heat as well, but it's because of needing water.

You can place the rebar in the container, or stake it near the tree and secure...

Good luck!!

laura

Rebar works really well. If you place it inside the container it may not have enough "bite" into ground to keep the plant stable. Also its been really easy for me to accidentally punch the rebar right through the container. So I like to place it just outside the container and use string or tape to hold branches.

My preference is twine string but I have a squirrel who keeps helping himself to my twine so I'm using tape until a resident Red Hawk does me a favor.

Lol, k....

Sometimes I will pound it through the black container on purpose to keep it secure in an area for the summer... It's all how you want to keep those containers secure. I agree, it won't have enough " bite" if it's a large tree and you don't punch it through... But you can always use other methods.

Love rebar.. :-)

laura

You can see the green tape was taut when i was shaping this CSO but over time it found the correct growth direction.