First Time Poster... Can you "straighten" a tree?

[ebb]

Hey There, 1st time posting - - great site! I've enjoyed reading & learning...

I'm a new homeowner on 15 acres upstate NY. On my property are a mostly white pine, oak, poplar, maple, ash, some pitch pine, few cedar and hemlock.

I really love the hemlock - but a storm landed an old oak onto one, a 20 ft tree in my yard. After I cleared the oak I noticed the hemlock was still bent. This is probably obsessive and dumb, but can I straighten it? I was thinking I'd get some cable half way up where it's bent & crank the come-along to a nearby stump. Thoughts?
Thanks!

 

[Dadatwins]

You need to check the root system and make sure the oak did not uproot the hemlock. Look around the base for ground heaved up. That could be source of lean. Maybe post a picure and will help get some idea of what we are dealing with.

 

[kevinj]

Hey There, 1st time posting - - great site! I've enjoyed reading & learning...

I'm a new homeowner on 15 acres upstate NY. On my property are a mostly white pine, oak, poplar, maple, ash, some pitch pine, few cedar and hemlock.

I really love the hemlock - but a storm landed an old oak onto one, a 20 ft tree in my yard. After I cleared the oak I noticed the hemlock was still bent. This is probably obsessive and dumb, but can I straighten it? I was thinking I'd get some cable half way up where it's bent & crank the come-along to a nearby stump. Thoughts?
Thanks!

Hey ebb,
welcome to AS.

Sometimes they may straighten themselves out.
But this sounds more drastic.
I'll let the experts deal with this one...

 

[ebb]

Thanks! I'll post a pic tomro when it's light out....
It's actually "bowed" half way up the trunk more than it is leaning. The roots and base are solid, but I guess the oak was weighted down on it for a couple of weeks and kinda "shaped" it...
The oak was old and rotten inside. It was about 3ft wide at the base and uprooted two smaller oak too on its way down. They are about 10 inch wide. Kinda bummed, it's also a lot of work, but its also some good firewood for next year.

 

[pbtree]

It might be OK, but I will reserve judgment until I see a pic....

 

[Ekka]

What you wouldn't want to do is break it, so I think you need a multiple attachment point above the bent area and slowly tension it.

Think of it as braces on ya tree not teeth.

Also during this manipulation the tree has to be pliable, not frozen or dry, so plenty of water. And it may be wise to install an anti pull line the opposite side to prevent the roots copping the distortion and localizing it on the stem.

Bear in mind this is only temporary, the webbed slings etc around the trunk will cause some cambium restriction ... I envisage 6 months should do it, no more than 12 months.

 

[treeseer]

Eric you are a true artist. An excellent plan.

I agree except that if the slings are spiraled they will do less damage and can stay on for years. I tied an 8" oak to a 22" pine and pulled hard to straighten it 4 years ago. I check the ties frequently; no bad damage yet, so I'll give it another year.

Hemlock is much more flexible so yes you should be able to straighten it.

 

[a_lopa]

I have a bent tree booked in that has nothing to be tied to,and a road in front.What could you do there to straighten it??

 

[treeseer]

I have a bent tree booked in that has nothing to be tied to,and a road in front.What could you do there to straighten it??

Splint?

 

[Ekka]

Lopa, you torque it up on the day, whilst torqued, like Guy says, splint.

But, doubt you'd get it dead straight.

You got it booked in for what? Removal.:hmm3grin2orange: