On Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:44:07 +0100, Wendy Tinley wrote:

We have a self-set Mountain Ash in our urban front garden. I would say
it's been growing for about four to five years and is now about seven to
eight feet high. The nearest building is 30 feet away.

Must like it, our Rowans aren't that much bigger and have been in
over ten years. B-)

My intention is to let it grow as is but both my neighbour and window
cleaner say I should stake it as the wind will make it grow bendy
against the prevailing wind. We are far from exposed but when it is a
bit blustery the sapling does whip around.

Unless it is exposed to an open aspect from the prevailing direction
and it is pretty much constantly windy it will grow straight. Our
trees are bent but they *are* exposed and it's nearly always quite
windy (by urban standards) and sometimes very windy (hard to stand up
windy).

The wind moving it about a bit will strengthen and thicken the trunk,
this won't happen if it's staked.

--
Cheers
Dave.