Need Advice with Crooked Sapling

6 years ago

Hi all,

A few years ago I transplanted a red oak seedling I found on my parents' property. It was a lot of work to get it to survive the transplant process.

The tree seems to be thriving now, but it has a bend/crooked spot in its leader (see pics below). The bend was due to a tree fork, which I pruned off last winter. The bend in the tree is lignified.

I was wondering if the bend will straighten out over time? Or, do you think the tree trunk will always be crooked? If you think it will always be crooked, would be possible to coppice the sapling at ground level this winter and try training a new leader to grow straight from the ground up?

Thank you.

Featured Answer

unclehippie
Original Author

3 years ago

I just wanted to share an update. After three years the oak’s trunk has almost completely straightened.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Embothrium
6 years ago
There probably won't be any sign of it when the trunk is feet in diameter.
unclehippie thanked Embothrium
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
tree time.. especially with oaks.. is counted in decades ...

in tree time.. it will make it disappear ... as noted.. when the tree trunk is a foot thick.. it will be barely noticable ...

ken

ps: notice how both above.. and below the crook.. the tree is almost perfectly plumb ... go figure ... the graph paper of the cage really helps.. good thinking.. lol ...
unclehippie thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
Related Professionals
Springfield Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Waco Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Des Moines Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Provo Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Somerset Landscape Contractors · New London Landscape Contractors · Springfield Landscape Contractors · Augusta Landscape Contractors · La Crosse Landscape Contractors · Oxnard Landscape Contractors · Mountain Home Home Additions · Pensacola Home Additions · Wichita Home Additions · Elk City Home Additions · Redding Home Additions
User
6 years ago
Every Oak I've tried to straighten has been a waste of time.

The one you have would be impossible.

I've always liked the gnarly old oak look, so enjoy the head start. :-)

As mentioned, twice, it will outgrow it in decade or two.
unclehippie thanked User
KR Nuttle
3 years ago
We planted a Nuttal Oak about 12 years ago in our front yard. At that time is was about 14' tall. For the next many years I would watch an the main leader started to grow off at an angle to the main trunk. Each year I spent time wondering what to do to straighten it. By the following spring when the next leader started off at angle last years was nice and straight. To day the tree is over 30' tall if the leaders are at an angle, I can see them. The tree is now a beautiful straight oak.
BillMN-z4a
3 years ago
Pretty good growth on that one for only 3 years or so.