Bending Maple Tree - Is there a way to save it or does it have to be removed?

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Canary01

New Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2018
Messages
2
Reaction score
2
Location
Northern Virginia
We have a healthy maple tree in our backyard that started to lean a lot toward our house & the neighbor's fence after a strong wind storm last week. It was the huge storm that knocked trees down and power out everywhere along the east coast. The tree looks like around 12 inch diameter & 35 ft tall. Is there a way to straighten it up, such as cutting off tree branches on the leaning side to balance it back up? Or is removal the best option? We live in Northern Virginia.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.


IMG_0786.jpg
 
Here are some photos around the root. The root looks fine, doesn't it? When it is windy, the bottom doesn't move. The tree, however, is bending and may seem to snap in half under its own weight if it rocks too hard.
 

Attachments

  • AD75F257-1C48-4037-9148-A5485A1E659E.jpeg
    AD75F257-1C48-4037-9148-A5485A1E659E.jpeg
    2.8 MB · Views: 22
  • 1CBBFDE1-8D6A-42A1-A96B-12605BCD443D.jpeg
    1CBBFDE1-8D6A-42A1-A96B-12605BCD443D.jpeg
    3.4 MB · Views: 22
Beautiful yard. Beautiful location.

Would you guys recommend feeding it with any nutrients in particular to help reestablish and deepen/strengthen the roots?
 
Too me it appears the tree has had the lower limbs cut off several times creating a been sprout. I may be wrong but it appears over raised making it grow tall and thin. The lean seems to be photo tropism being shaded out by the other trees. A slight reduction might be in order in early fall to slow the upward growth and take a bit of weight out. Not top it mind you reduction is small limbs think 300 lbs not 2 tons! This also lets roots catch up so to speak by manipulating auxin by the cutting of the apical bud temporarily confusing the upward growth. Unfortunately the tree is surrounded by many trees and that very well might be why it grew tall and lanky as well! The tree to its left needs attention too it has weak attachment and also needs reduction imho.
 
Beautiful yard. Beautiful location.

Would you guys recommend feeding it with any nutrients in particular to help reestablish and deepen/strengthen the roots?
I would not recommend fertilization without knowing if soil is deficient which takes a proper soil test that includes both macro and micro nutrient quantities.
 
Back
Top