It is common for young trees, new saplings, or thin-stemmed trees to lean. If you notice a leaning tree in your yard in Overland Park, it is better that you catch this sooner rather than later. Younger trees need guidance, and if they remain in their tilted state into the tree’s maturity, there is not much that can be done later on. Once a leaning tree is mature or old, it will most likely need to be removed by a professional team from an experienced Overland Park Tree Removal Company.

For younger trees, you can easily straighten the tree’s trunk by using stakes. We recommend using two or three metal or wooden stakes per tree.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to go about this:

• Feel for the spot on the trunk where there is the most flexibility, or the tilting point of the leaning; usually it is at about the 5-foot mark.
• Place the stakes on opposite sides of the tree trunk and drive them into the ground approximately a foot and half upwind of the trunk. The stakes should stand only as tall as the spot you found in step 1 (about 5 feet tall). If you need a third stake, it should be placed on the open side of the tree.
• Use soft material to attach the stakes to the tree trunk. The best materials are tree staking straps and canvas straps. Stay away from using wire or rope because these rough materials will hurt the tree trunk. Keep in mind that the tree needs room to sway a little so you should leave some slack in the material.

Staking a tree helps a tree establish the root system during the growing season and it is no longer necessary at the point of maturity. Remove the stakes when the tree is able to stand straight on its own.

If you have an old tree that you notice is leaning, there is a high chance that the tree will need to be removed. Always remember to leave jobs like this to professionals who will follow top safety practices. If you have any questions about taking care of a leaning tree in the Overland Park neighborhood, our Safety Tree team is happy to provide an answer. Please keep us in mind for all of your Overland Park tree removal or tree trimming projects.