Straighten Willow tree with rope & tractor with pics

[Mousefield]

Just over 3 weeks ago we had our first snow fall of the winter, 6, 3 & 2 inches. Out on the west coast it is often very wet and heavy. This willow tree that we planted about 11 years ago was almost flat over the driveway. When clearing the snow I used the FEL to straighten it somewhat. Today I was trying to figure out how to save it, as the next snow fall it would probably fall again. So used some rope I had gotten at a garage sale 7-8 years ago and, putting some cloth around the willow tree so as not to damage the bark, then tried the rope to it and loop it around a fir tree back to the FEL. A little backward motion on the tractor and the willow tree straightened right up. Did prop it up with a board after that and will have to do something more permanent in the spring. There is a ditch behind the tree so will be hard to put in a post or ?

 

[PhilNH5]

Looks like a good job. I had something similar happen to a small willow in an ice storm two years ago. I straightened it by hand. Wish I had thought to use the tractor like you did. Tied a rope to a stake and to the trunk. Usd a half hitch knot which adjusts the lenght of the rope. IT's been two years and I still have the rope on trying to get the poor tree to stand straight.

 

[LarryD]

Mousefield, I had to prop up a Douglas Fir I wanted to keep a few years back that did the same thing. Remember the big snow in '08?
I drove a steel construction stake in the ground and wedged a 2x6 in place to support it. I cut a "V" in the 2x6. After a year I pulled the support and it's still standing.
If you want to pull it instead of push, use a "T" post and some cable with a piece of garden hose to keep it from cutting into the tree.

 

[Thomas]

Good safe well done job.
Tie in 1/3's for support won't take willow roots long to grab tree to shoot upwards.

 

[pat32rf]

It looks like it wants to lean towards the driveway so why not just tie it back to the trees beyond the ditch?. Couple of ropes so it can't swing....
We always read of members REMOVING trees with their tractor, nice to see the opposite.

 

[KubotaSam]

I had a number of trees blown over by a tornado last summer. I was told not to leave the ropes around the tree after straightening them. The info I got was that even if you pad the rope around the tree it will damage the bark which will kill the tree. I was advised to screw a large eye hook into the tree and anchor it that way.