Hello,

Last summer, the city planted a tree for us. It's a Japanese Lilac with a 2 or 3 inch trunk diameter and is probably about 12 feet or so tall.

We noticed that it's kind of growing crooked and are trying to figure out if there's a good way to straighten it out. When I say crooked, I mean the trunk is perfectly straight, but the whole tree, from the dirt to the top leaf, is probably at an 80 degree angle.

I think it's like this because they didn't make it plumb when they planted it. I've read a lot online about staking trees, but I'm not sure if that's appropriate for our situation. The tree is strong and has no problem with wind or tipping over, it just looks so damn crooked.

Also, I tried pushing gently on the trunk to see how much give there was, and there really wasn't any. I don't know if that matters or not, but figured I'd tell you.

Can anyone please provide some suggestions for what we might do? I'm sure that naturalists will say to just leave it alone and let it grow any way it wants to, but if it's at all possible, we'd really love to help her straighten herself out. Thanks a lot for any help you can provide.

Thanks again,
C.

Whenwas the tree planted? The only way to straighten it up is to dig it up enough to move the root ball. In effect, the tree should be replanted. If it has been more than 2 weeks sonce planting, you run a great risk of damaging new roots that have started growing, and reduce the chances of survival.

Trying to force the tree upright without digging out the root ball first, could lead to root damage also.

Hello Russ,

Thank you very much for the reply. The tree was planted early last summer so it's been about a year now.

Would we have to actually dig up/out the root ball, or would we be able to just loosen the soil up a little bit and maybe try to shift it that way?

Do you have any idea about staking the tree? A neighbor said to do it for one year and that it would pull it back in the other direction to make it grow straight, but I read online that many people say not to stake a tree "if you don't have to."

Also, if we do have to dig up the tree, do you have any tips that might help us? We're kind of in a 50/50 type situation. We really want to get her growing straight, but we certainly don't want to do anything that will hurt her.

Thanks a lot for your help.

Cheers.

Digging the tree now, after nearly a year, will cause quite a bit of damage. The roots have already grown out, perhaps as much as three feet or more beyond the original root ball. Digging it now, unless you can dig a very large root ball, will sever those roots and set the tree back in its recovery from the original transplanting, and maybe even kill it.

Two things can be done: 1) Leave it alone. It will eventually start growing more upright, but the lower part of the trunk will always have a bit of a lean to it, although that ‘sweep’ or bend in the trunk will seem to disappera as the tree grows large. 2) Try to gently force it upright by guying the trunk back, as your neighbor suggested. You may not be able to get the whole trunk straight, and this alternative may also have a permanent lean near the base, at least until the trunk grows large enough to cover the whole base That is there now. I recommend leaving the guys in place for at least two growing seasons. If you install them now, leave them until August or September of next year. That will give the tree time to grow new wood to support the new position.

Digging away some soil will not help. You risk damaging the tender new roots. Pulling the tree too far will stretch and bend the roots. don’t try to fis the entire problem by pulling the tree up. Go part way, and let the tree do the rest.

Good luck.

Russ,

Thank you very much for all your help. I'll talk to the wife and we will try to decide if we should leave it alone or do the guying thing like the neighbor described. You've been a lot of help. Thanks again.

Cheers.