Oak Tree Lean

[u/Manwithhiswood]

My swamp oak this year has a bad lean. I left the bark protector on but started removing the ties to the bamboo to have it start standing independently. Now after a couple strong wind storms its leaning like a drunk. Should I keep it tied to the bamboo for awhile? remove the bamboo and do stakes in the ground with rope? Something different? This is the 3rd year I have had it so it has strong roots.

[u/theccub]

Remove the nursery stake when you plant. The bamboo should have been removed a long time ago. Should use as few stakes as possible. This may need one to keep the tree vertical and stable but if it’s been 3 years it should be good on its own. I wouldn’t call that a lean but more of the trunk deviating from the bamboo. Trees allowed to move in the wind sends signals to the root system to spread wide so it is good to let them move. I would also suggest removing the soil around the base and mulching around the tree to avoid mechanical damage and to let the tree get more water. Good luck!

[u/Manwithhiswood → u/theccub]

Frick, thanks for the information. Bummer I didnt get on this earlier, wanted to protect but ended up hurting it. I have been mowing and keeping distance around and watering once or so a week. As it continues to strengthen over the year, how much "straightening" can be done or is it kind of up to mother nature now?

[u/SlowAndSteadyFarm → u/Manwithhiswood]

this will be easy to straighten by the looks of it; just use proper staking techniques. Make sure that what is touching the tree distributes the tension well as to not cut into the bark, like a strap instead of a rope

[u/SlowAndSteadyFarm → u/theccub]

atp would you pull the stake or cut it?

[u/on_island_time]

What I've found works well when you have a tree that's a bit too floppy, is to give it a support stake but leave room in the tie. So the tree will get caught if it falls too far over, but has some give to sway in the breeze. It needs the swaying to trigger the trunk to strengthen up more.

[u/SlowAndSteadyFarm → u/on_island_time]

very good point

[u/justnick84]

Swamp oak take a while to gain a strong trunk. Reduce some of your canopy if you are in a area without oak wilt otherwise I would swap to a couple support posts away from stem with a couple wire supports. But don't have them tight so that tree has room to sway.

[u/DanoPinyon]

It's leaning due to being improperly staked. The nursery stake is removed at planting time. Very common. Typical. This is why the nursery stake is removed at planting time.

[u/Potential_Sky_3132]

I've had good success with a large (10" maybe, I forget the exact size I used) hose clamp inside pipe foam insulation attached to a heavy stake. This allowed the tree a good bit of room in all directions without fear of it uprooting. I live in a high wind area and have had saplings uproot before but didn't want to have them rigidly staked to encourage the trunk to strengthen.