Hi all,

I have a baby Eastern Redbud in Appalachian red. I dig this up last Summer (2015) from the base of a larger Redbud tree. While propagating, the young plant was weaving around the bed of leaves and the trunk is all crooked. Is there a way I can straightening out this baby plant in its second year? I want to have a nice straight Redbud tree in front of my home years from now, but the way it looks at this point, I don't think it would look nice later.

Thanks!

The baby Redbud tree right now.


I aim to make the tree grow nice like this one, when it's big and tall :)

Welcome Chris! I would put a stake next to your sapling and gently attach it to the stake with something soft, pulling it as straight as you can. And I would keep it in a place where it gets full sun so it won't try to lean to get more light. You may not get all of the bend out of it, but sometimes a bit of a twist is interesting.

Straighten it over time tying it to a stake tighter and tighter until it is straight. Sometimes it helps if the little trunk is wet. Then let the sunlight help it.