SOS - Tree Leaning After Storm

[oldmannickels]

Came home today after a storm and my tree was leaning at almost a 45 degree angle. I dug up the base a bit and it looks intact. Then I attached it to my iron stair railing to get it mostly straight as a temporary fix. No arborists are available because of all the major tree damage in the area.

This is a street tree between the sidewalk and the street so the tree pit is not very big maybe about a 4x4 square.So the further I can put a stake is 2 ft from the tree. The diameter is approx 4 inches and it's 12-13 ft tall. It only needs support one way, other sides seem stable.

What should I use for more permanent tree stakes? The steel tbars or the wooden posts, and how big? Is my tree a lost hope I really like shade?

[lthenderson]

If enough of the root structure is still intact, it might be salvageable. I usually use metal (tbar) stakes because they can be pounded in and don't take up a lot of real estate. I would make sure you have the tbar pounded in a good two feet or more for adequate support. You can also use wooden posts but to get them deep enough to support weight, you will have to dig a hole and bury the end of the post, tamping in the soil really well.

I have never tried straightening a tree that has blown over. I am just giving advice based off of transplanting a few fairly large trees over the years and supporting them until their roots can support them.

[Gone Fishing]

+1 for tposts.  They really hang on and won't rot out.  Just be sure to cover the tops of the posts once you drive them in.  They can cause nasty injuries.  You didn't mention what type of tree, but before you invest anything into it, does the species have a habit of falling over prematurely?  If so, it may be a good time to swap it out for something more robust.  How long ago was it planted?  A newly planted tree should be able to hold itself up after 2-3 years.

[oldmannickels]

+1 for tposts.  They really hang on and won't rot out.  Just be sure to cover the tops of the posts once you drive them in.  They can cause nasty injuries.  You didn't mention what type of tree, but before you invest anything into it, does the species have a habit of falling over prematurely?  If so, it may be a good time to swap it out for something more robust.  How long ago was it planted?  A newly planted tree should be able to hold itself up after 2-3 years.

I think that it's a sycamore maple tree it was planted when I moved in 5 years ago, would guess about 10 years old. We have volunteer "tree tenders" in our neighborhood and one came out last year and said it was healthy. If I give up on the tree it will take the city a year plus to being in a new one. We had a crazy storm with 80mph winds yesterday.

Any thoughts on how big of t posts  I should get? The come in 5" x 7' and 3" by 7'

[lthenderson]

Any thoughts on how big of t posts  I should get? The come in 5" x 7' and 3" by 7'

Not sure what the 5" and 3" are measuring but the most important part is the gauge of metal used in the posts. The ones sold in big box DIY stores are junk. I've bought them before and regretted it. They are super thin and I can bend one across my knee. I go for the ones found at farm stores which aren't bendable without more force than a human can provide.

[oldmannickels]

So and update for you all. I fixed the leaning tree for now. Here's what I did.

I opted for wooden posts instead of metal. I was worried about the quality and size of the metal at the big box stores and I don't have access to other stores that I know of where I live.

I purchased 3 wooden tree posts from lowes. 8 ft high with a 2" diameter. approx. $15

I bought a set of 3 nylon ratchet straps for $14.

I broke my friends rubber hammer and bought him a replacement $10.

Total all in tree saving materials $39.

I dug 3 holes about 1 1/2 ft deep. Marked the posts for 3ft and drove them in at an angle until I hit the mark. I'm not sure if my shoulder will ever recover. Filled and tamped the dirt around the posts. Attached the nylon straps to the tree and tightened them.

It hasn't had to endure any storms for a couple of days, but the wooden posts flex with the tree so I'm hopeful it will hold.

Seems like a lot of work, but not I get to keep the shade on my steps in the afternoon. It wouldn't take years to get another tree planted and another decade to get some decent shade. Hopefully it will fully recover and be enjoyed for decades to come.

[lthenderson]

Sounds like what you did should work. I would keep an eye on where the nylon strap wraps around the trunk. Sycamore trees especially have fairly thin bark and the nylon could girdle the tree if there is a lot of movement. Maple trees have a more hardier bark layer so that probably wouldn't be a problem.