More on the Liriodendron tulipifera Yellow poplar (not a poplar but actually in the magnolia family).
Taipans, Dirr states in his Manual of Woody Landscape Plants that the Yellow poplar is also prone to leaf yellowing, a physiological disorder, problematic to newly planted trees as well as established trees which do not receive adequate water. The leaves abscise prematurely. So with the stress this tree has had in its short life, I would say this could be an expected circumstance.
The 3" movement in all directions should be sufficient for the time being. Hopefully, next year you will be able to take off the bracing.
Your weather is about what I would have thought (my brother lives outside St. Louis and that is what he has reported in the past). So I would definitely look into something to protect the trunk this winter.
Sylvia
Taipans, Dirr states in his Manual of Woody Landscape Plants that the Yellow poplar is also prone to leaf yellowing, a physiological disorder, problematic to newly planted trees as well as established trees which do not receive adequate water. The leaves abscise prematurely. So with the stress this tree has had in its short life, I would say this could be an expected circumstance.
The 3" movement in all directions should be sufficient for the time being. Hopefully, next year you will be able to take off the bracing.
Your weather is about what I would have thought (my brother lives outside St. Louis and that is what he has reported in the past). So I would definitely look into something to protect the trunk this winter.
Sylvia