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Posted by KD on May 5, 2008, 2:54 pm
> Hi all,
>
> I've got a redbud tree (at least that's what I've been told it is) in my
> front yard. =A0Unfortunately it is growing at an angle, hanging over the
> street and actually around a streetlight. =A0It is a very pretty tree but
> looks like hell. =A0I think it did this because it was competing with an
> oversized elderberry bush that was left untrimmed by the previous
> owners. =A0The redbud has two main trunks, one about 4" and the other
> about 3" in diameter.
>
> So yesterday I figured I would try to pull the tree straight and bought
> some cable, clamps, and instead of a stake I bought a ground rod
> figuring that a typical wooden stake wouldn't hold this tree (I have a
> small ironwood in the back yard that I'm doing the same treatment to.)
> I cut the ground rod in half, drove one half into the ground a few feet
> away from the tree, and started setting up the cable. =A0Gave SWMBO a
> wrench with instructions that she should tighten the cable clamps while
> I was pushing the tree upright and pulling the cable taut. =A0I set my
> back against the main trunk, held the loose end of the cable (I bought
> the cable long enough that I could loop it around the ground rod and
> back to the tree) took a breath, pushed, and... nothing. =A0The damn tree
> is STIFF.
>
> Then things got stupid. =A0I pulled the truck around front, tied a loop in=
> the cable, and dropped it over the trailer hitch. =A0Carefully I inched
> forward, but as soon as the cable pulled taut, the ground rod bent, and
> the cable slipped off of it. =A0(this is better than what I expected,
> which was the cable snapping and whipping around. =A0So SWMBO was standing=
> well away from all this mess.) =A0It had a good bite in the ground, but
> bent right where the clay under-soil gave way to actual topsoil, maybe
> 9" to a foot below the surface.
>
> So what do I do with this tree? =A0it's the prettiest tree in my front
> yard, but looks very ghetto as it's been allowed to grow at such an
> angle. =A0What can I use as a stake that's stronger than a ground rod?
> Rebar? =A0And how do I pull it without using a pickup truck (e.g. safely)
> I'm thinking two cables, each with a turnbuckle in the middle,
> alternately being shortened, or maybe I should just bite the bullet and
> invest in a good, heavy come-along.
>
> nate
>
> --
> replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.http://members.cox.net/njnagel
I have no advice at all, but had to look up what a 'SWMBO' was! :)
Maybe it's an American thing, but I've never heard of it here in
Canada before. Good one!
KD
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