2-year old red oak question - Ask Extension
Our red oak, planted early spring of 2024, looks healthy but has grown tall quickly and is now bending over. We are wondering if we need to support it...
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2-year old red oak question #933707
Asked June 01, 2026, 10:59 AM EDT
Our red oak, planted early spring of 2024, looks healthy but has grown tall quickly and is now bending over. We are wondering if we need to support it in some way and how do we do this without interfering with the tree's natural strengthening that comes from being in the wind and so on?
Thank you for your assistance
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Are there neighboring trees or buildings that shelter or provide wind protection for your oak up to the point where it is bending? See this web page
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/staking-and-guying-trees
In the planting section of the following web page, look at the directions for planting. If your tree was purchased balled and burlaped or in a pot, were the roots trimmed at the planting time so that they would spread out instead of continuing to grow in circles? If not the tree may need to be uprooted and replanted. An arborist should be consulted for this work.
Also in the planting section look at the diagram and make sure that the root flare is visible at the base of the tree. Planting too deep can cause problems.
https://extension.umn.edu/how/planting-and-transplanting-trees-and-shrubs
Good job on putting hardware cloth around the base to keep varmints from chewing on the bark.
A soil test may reveal if there is a problem that has occurred recently. https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/
There is a $22 fee for this.
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/staking-and-guying-trees
In the planting section of the following web page, look at the directions for planting. If your tree was purchased balled and burlaped or in a pot, were the roots trimmed at the planting time so that they would spread out instead of continuing to grow in circles? If not the tree may need to be uprooted and replanted. An arborist should be consulted for this work.
Also in the planting section look at the diagram and make sure that the root flare is visible at the base of the tree. Planting too deep can cause problems.
https://extension.umn.edu/how/planting-and-transplanting-trees-and-shrubs
Good job on putting hardware cloth around the base to keep varmints from chewing on the bark.
A soil test may reveal if there is a problem that has occurred recently. https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/
There is a $22 fee for this.
