Tree misalignment?
 

Some time ago, at the family house, the pine tree in the front yard began to lean to one side. Slowly, it leaned ever more. It is now at a point where if it leaned anymore, it'll topple over. The roots are not exposed however the root ball is seemingly formed and bumping out of the ground. The tree height is approximatly 20ft+ tall.

So, wtf, what's the point of this....

Well, I had this idea some time ago, when it wasn't as grossly misaligned. The idea was to dig a trench that was on the obtuse side of the tree. Then to attach a chain to the tree and to a 4x4 pickup. Water down the soil until muddy, while applying a force opposing the inclination of the tree. Once secured, slowly bring it upright.

BUT, now that this beast is so much more bowed down, I recommended to my dad that it would be best if we just hired someone to cut the bitch down and end of story. It is leaning towards the power lines to the house, if that shit breaks, that's just alot more trouble.

My dad plans to erect this tree to its propper posture no matter what I say. So, he's going to take his FWD Ford Escape as a substitute for the pickup I had invisioned.

I don't have any pics till I get there on Friday. But anyone have an alternative plan of action besides the chain puling or professional or just comments?

Dough

Sounds like some wheel spin practice is planned to me :dunno

Does the word "firewood" ring a bell? :thud cut the bitch down, when they start leaning that bad they're usually diseased or infested.

well, it will look wicked ugly, but you could just try to tie it down, attatch ropes to it and attatch them to something else(maybe another thick tree) just take make sure it doesnt fall over, then, if the ropes are very tight, i guess over time it may realign itself

escapes arent 4WD?

Haha, not all, my dad cheaped out, haha. He's got a WHITE ugly ass Escape, 2WD, 3.0L V6. OH, and it's got a tow hitch... yippie....::sarcasm:: I don't personally think they are worth the $25k, especially for 2WD!... but this isn't about the Escape.

Whiteshark... wheel spinning indeed, I'm looking forward to seeing how much rubber we'll be able to burn off those front tires.

c1apton... good idea, just, well, he claims that the tree is a ::cough:: "LANDMARK". I told him, like above, cut er down, plan something in it's place, something that flowers perhaps, doesn't matter.

Man..... being stubborn is annoying....

Dough

just a thought but mayb if u get yourself a bigass floor jack, and fashion a sort of Y shaped piece of wood put the floor jack on a big sheet of metal or even thick wood (for better weight distribution) and then mayb try jacking that bitch into place using the wooden Y to push it up, get some wood to prop it, move closer and reapeat, and then when its up, take some rope and tie that sucker off to something secure. just a thought hope it helps :)! i deffinatly want pictures of this fiasco no matter how it goes down!

-Hutch-

haha, I promise... pics will come, but I don't think you understand its size or inclination haha.

Dough

lol my 4cyl isuzu truck that runs really badly right now would probably pull better than that espace. i dont think he will be able to move a 20+ft tree, maybe something like a F-350 turbo diesel could...

Yea please take pictures this sounds like it could be mildly amusing.

another though for u dough, get a heavy duty winch or comealong and hook it up to something big and solid like the base of a bigass oak, and then the other end of it to the upper end of the leaning tree, then just slowly winch it in.

-Hutch-

pics or teh ban!

~*Teg*~

Don't stand anywhere near the tree when you dad is "fixin" it. For God's sake hire a professional to cut it down. Please don't ask about my $5000.00 tree adventure.

Doc

OK, I won't ask, but I do plan to keep my distance. Remeber now, it is not me who is doing this... it's my stubborn father.

Dough

Ha Ha this thread is too funny!.......escape straightening up a big ass tree :laugh I hope there's pics

Haha, I don't even know what to tell you. Good luck I suppose. :lol