Camellia – Wires Embedded in Trunk

Q: I have taken on the monumental task of reclaiming my mother ‘s formal gardens because she has developed Alzheimer’s Disease. I’m concerned for some camellias which have been trained to grow up a shingled wall of the garage. They were secured using a variety of wires and ties and most of the fasteners are now deeply embedded in the branches. The plants are coming out strong this year. I’d like to remove all the invading wires – they slide out pretty well when I clip one side and pull them through with pliers. Is this a reasonable strategy?

A: If the wires slide out easily then go ahead and remove them. But if much effort is needed then leave them in place. The plants seem to have adapted to their presence without much harm.