How To Fix a Leaning Tree in Greensboro, NC

Most people imagine trees growing tall and upright, yet that doesn’t always happen. Trees sometimes grow at an angle or develop a lean due to environmental conditions or structural problems. Knowing how to fix a leaning tree in your yard can reduce the risk of it falling and damaging your property. 

Summit Tree Care provides top-tier tree services in Greensboro, NC, including anchor and guying solutions to ensure tree stability. Below, we explain why one of your trees may lean and what you could do about it. 

Why Do Trees Lean?

One of the primary culprits behind unnatural tree leans is root rot which means the root system may have a fungal infection. Roots could also grow incorrectly or fail to pull enough oxygen from oversaturated soil, causing them to deteriorate. 

Other reasons for this common tree condition include:

• Storm damage
• Girdling roots
• Soil erosion

Are Leaning Trees Hazardous?

Trees with a natural angled growth typically aren’t dangerous. In this case, the angled growth occurs slowly, so the root systems may be structurally sound.

However, trees with structural issues are cause for concern because they could fall under the right conditions. All it may take is a windy day or heavy rainfall to weaken the root system enough for a tree to fall over. 

Look for the following indicators of structural problems in your leaning tree:

• The once-vertical tree begins to lean after a storm.  
• The lean is getting progressively worse.
• The tree is leaning over a road, sidewalk, or another high-traffic area.
• The soil surrounding the tree is heaving.

Correcting Tree Leaning: Top Tips

Tree care experts know how to fix a leaning tree with structural problems. Learn how the professionals provide structural support by reviewing the following tree straightening methods. 

Young Trees

If your sapling develops a sudden lean, you could correct it by driving three stakes into the ground around it. Proper tree staking techniques involve inserting the stakes at a 45-degree angle without getting too close to the rootball. 

Gently force the tree into an upright position. Wet soil makes this step easier, so you might need to saturate the ground to maneuver the sapling. 

Then, wrap tree-staking straps around the trunk and secure them to each stake. Ensure the tree’s placement is ideal so that it can anchor itself properly in its corrected position.

Mature Trees

The process for correcting leans in mature trees is similar to the steps for saplings. However, you’d need heavy-duty stakes. Drive them at least 18 inches into the soil, taking care not to hit the root base.

Turn to Summit Tree Care for Help With Your Leaning Tree

Learning how to fix a leaning tree is a great way to ensure upright tree growth and prevent it from falling onto your home, vehicle, or another structure. The good news is that you don’t have to deal with the process alone. Our experts at Summit Tree Care provide safe and cost-effective tree care solutions, including tree removal, cabling, and bracing. 

If you’re ready to explore professional tree support systems in Greensboro, North Carolina, contact us today to request your free estimate.