Trees usually grow straight up on their own, but sometimes a tree in the yard is tossed by strong winds or from a storm. Luckily, you can straighten a swaying tree yourself. The difficulty depends on the size of the tree, but we'll give tips for both! This article will explain how to do it step by step.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Installing a Turus for a Small Tree that is Leaning
Step 1. Insert the stake into the ground in the opposite direction of the tree's sloping direction
Hammer down 50 cm from the tree and 50 cm deep into the ground at an incline of about 15° from the tree.
- You can use a pickaxe to make holes in the soil first, or moisten the soil with water from a hose to soften it and make it easier to pierce the ground.
- Do not damage the roots when you install the turret.
- You can buy a turus made of processed wood at a garden supply or home supply store.
- Turus should be about of the height of the tree with a diameter of 5-10 cm.
- This method is suitable for trees that are quite small and can be straightened by pulling by hand. If the tree can't be pulled out by hand, you'll need to use another method to straighten it.
Step 2. Insert the ratchet strap into a piece of rubber hose
Use old garden hose or buy rubber hose at a hardware store. Thread the ratchet string through it until the hose is in the middle of the rope.
- Make sure the hose is long enough to cover about the diameter of the trunk to protect the bark.
- You can use a wire wrapped in a rubber hose, but a rope with a ratchet will be easier to tighten.
- Rope with ratchet is available at home supply stores or you can find special ropes for straightening trees at garden supply stores.
- Do not use tight wire or rope to pull on the tree as this can damage the bark and potentially kill the tree.
Step 3. Loop the hose around the tree trunk and pull the rope straight down
Wrap the rope around the side of the tree that is leaning in one direction. Mount it about 50 cm high from the ground. Pull the end of the rope in a downward direction.
If the tree is very small and weak, attach the rope closer to the ground wherever it looks more stable. Gently pull the rope to make sure the tree can still stand on its own under the pressure
Step 4. Tie the rope around the turret and pull it firmly
Tie the ends in a tight knot around the turus. Pull the rope until the tree stands upright.
Don't pull the rope so tight that the tree can't move. Trees still need to be able to move a little in the wind so that their roots grow strong
Step 5. Keep track of the tree and tighten the rope as it loosens
Check the tree at least once a week and tighten the rope. That way, the tree won't tilt anymore and will help it grow straight.
You should also check after a major windstorm to make sure the tree is still securely fastened in place
Step 6. Untie the rope and go down after 1 growing season has passed
First, loosen the rope a little to make sure the tree is standing upright. Remove the rope completely after you've made sure the tree can stand upright on its own.
- A growing season means the period of the year when trees and other plants grow the most. Typically, the growing season lasts about 90 days in subtropical climates, but can last as long as a whole year in tropical climates like Indonesia.
- You can start the tufting process at any time of year, but make sure the tree goes through a full growing season before removing the straps.
Method 2 of 2: Straightening the Big Twisted Tree
Step 1. Measure the diameter of the tree with a flexible measuring tape
Wrap the measuring tape around the fattest part of the trunk. This measure will be used to calculate the size of the trench that needs to be dug around the root network.
- If you don't have a flexible measuring tape, use a piece of string and a regular measuring tape. Wrap the rope around the tree trunk, then measure the length of the rope needed to wrap around the trunk with a regular measuring tape.
- This straightening method is suitable for trees that are too large to straighten by pulling using a rope and pull system.
Step 2. Dig a trench around the base of the tree to free the roots
Use a shovel to dig a trench around the tree trunk at least 25 cm wide for every 2.5 cm the trunk diameter. The depth of the trench should be about 50 cm.
- For example, if the tree is 50 cm in diameter, you will have to dig a trench at least 500 cm (5 meters) wide.
- If the tree is very large and you don't want to dig the trench yourself, hire a tree moving company to dig the hole with a tree shovel.
- A very large tree cannot be straightened easily. Consider leaving the tree hanging as is to avoid damaging the roots and killing mature trees.
Step 3. Place the bearing on the tree trunk and wrap the rope around the bearing
Position the pad on the swaying side of the tree. Tie a rope around it and make a knot to secure it.
You can use a foam pad like a camping mat or an old blanket as a cushion to protect the tree bark
Step 4. Pull the tree with a rope to straighten it
Enlist the help of multiple people to pull the tree upright, or tie a rope to the truck and slowly advance to begin straightening the tree. Stop pulling when the tree isn't moving and dig a wider trench to loosen the root tissue. Stop pulling and keep the rope attached to the tree and truck once the tree is upright.
Do not pull at the roots without loosening them first, otherwise you risk breaking the roots and killing the tree
Step 5. Cover the hole around the tree with soil from the previous excavation
Use a shovel to compress the soil back into the trench and bury the roots. Return as much soil as possible so the roots have a good foundation. Open mines from trees and trucks after the trench is closed.
It will take at least a year for the roots to grow back once you loosen them and shift the tree
Step 6. Tie a tree straightener rope around the trunk for at least 1 year
Insert 2-3 wooden posts at least 50 cm deep into the soil, further than the previously dug trench so as not to damage the root tissue. Loop the straightening rope around the center of the trunk and tie it to the post to hold the tree in place.
- You can buy special quarry for trees at a home supply store.
- Mine will keep the tree stable so the roots can grow back on their own.
- Not all trees are straightened. Sometimes roots have difficulty growing back. In this case, you may not be able to save the tree from death.
- Before opening the rope, loosen it up a bit to make sure the tree can stand on its own.
