' The folks at the nursery told me to plant it with the lean facing north and that should eventually correct it. '

LOL! now i've heard everything.

A slight lean may correct itself to a small extent bc that's the nature of trees. Otherwise, you should have corrected it by setting it in the ground so it looked straight.

That can still be done being it's just been planted.

Straightening it by staking isn't always reliable and can take a season or two before it can be released.

Make sure the root flare is not buried and is at ground level or a bit above.

Does the nursery have a return policy? They encouraged you to purchase a faulty specimen.

Now that I look more closely, that tree is not just leaning, it's bent and now the candles are going straight up and the trunk is acquiring a snakelike curve. I agree it's deformed.

Thanks for the info everyone! I think it may be too late for a return. I think what I may do is replant it vertically and see how the curve progresses within a year or two. I was in a hurry when I bought it and figured I could have staked it. Feeling a bit foolish but that's the price I pay ;) you live and learn.

The OP reminded me of a tree my father planted about 70 years ago. He had been told to plant it so it leaned to the north away from the sun, and it would straighten as it grew. 20 years ago when it was cut down it was still leaning to the north waiting for the sun to straighten it. It was a running joke in the family for years.

You can call it your compass plant. Just be sure you find the root flare and replant accordingly.

tj

Thanks! And the root flare goes unburied at ground level?

you cant stake and pull back a tree that has no roots to pull against ... so thats out.. imo ...

i might just go in there... since its still lose .. on the side away from the lean .. dig out away from the root ball ... and just tilt the root ball.. until it is upright.. and then firm it back in ...

wouldnt this be the simpler solution for a tree planted a few weeks ago???

i hope they gave you a big discount to offset said lean ...

btw.. when its a foot thick trunk.. this will all be irrelevant it will appear straight ...

ken