Can I straighten young bent maple?

[bwelsch]

I bought a Red Maple last fall and it grew bent at the nursery in an attempt to find more light.  The tree is about 7-8' tall and is straight for the bottom 1-2' and then leans about 30 degrees the rest of the way.  I planted it so the bottom is straight and the top leans mostly north - I guess hoping it might pull itself straighter that way.  It has a 4'' piece of bamboo tied to it in an effort to help it out, but I doubt it's enough.  

I don't care if it's perfectly straight, but I would like to try to straighten it and make sure it's healthy.  I'm considering adding two stakes to help nudge it straighter, maybe pulling it 5 degrees at first and then tightening it up in 6-8 week intervals for the rest of the year.  

Anyway, is there a reasonably successful way to fix this tree?  The trunk is maybe 1" thick - though I haven't actually measured.

[Beardie]

Is the bend an abrupt corner or a gradual bend? It's easier to deal with if the latter. Left to it's own devices, the tree will make corrective vertical growth only on new growth; the existing trunk will remain much the same. So your idea for a progressive pull, 5 degrees at a time, is a good one. Bonsai growers routinely bend their trees into all sorts of shapes. Bear in mind that maples are rather brittle, so if you hear a faint 'crack' leave everything as it is and wait another 6 weeks before continuing. Time it so that the straightening is complete by autumn, when it stops growing. Leave the supports in place over winter, then get ready to adjust them in early spring, so they don't cut into the trunk as it starts growing again. Then continue to support the trunk for a couple more growing seasons, until the tree has laid down a couple of fresh growth rings in the new shape.

[Mick Dempsey]

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/real-life/what-really-goes-on-during-a-gay-conversion-therapy-session-10468

 

Could try it, controversial stuff though.

 

Live and let live I say....

Edited April 14, 2018 by Mick Dempsey

[Beardie]

44 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/real-life/what-really-goes-on-during-a-gay-conversion-therapy-session-10468

 

 

OK, I got it. Didn't want it, but I got it. Room 101, here we come!

Edited April 14, 2018 by Beardie
Dawning realisation of Mick's awful post regarding things being made straight

[Graham]

It's probably bent from the graft or budding point.  Be careful you don't snap it at the union if you attempt to straighten it.

[voj maintenance]

As mentioned above, Bonsai trees are trained using wire, usually copper. It is coiled around the branch or trunk that is to be shaped. Not sure how thick your maple is and if this is feasible.