Some initial thoughts are that it stakes into the root zone. That's bad thing #1. It doesn't let the tree flex at all. That's bad thing #2. And it looks like it lasts a really long time seeing as how it's made from steel. If it lasts forever and someone forgets to remove it... That's bad thing #3.
Looks like they used it on a little hibiscus or rose or something. I wouldn't use it on a tree that's real valuable.

Unless you are training a tree to be upright, a tree only needs to be staked in windy locations during establishment and for that, it's recommended to use two stakes placed outside the rootball and flexible bands are used allowing the tree to sway somewhat in the wind.

Why would you want to pay for a staking product?

I have a 5 year old snow mountain hydrangea that is bending to one side. It faces east and gets sun from 8-1. I unfortunately never pruned it (lesson learned) and its canopy got top heavy on one side. Last year it started to lean. I've talked with several people and there seems to be 2 schools of thought (as seems to always be the case when discussing plants/landscaping):

1.) All hope is lost, it's not in the right spot, the only thing I can do is move it.

That is not an option I'm willing to explore.

2.) Prune it in the Fall, stake it for a growing season or two and see how it does---it will most likely always be fuller on the one side (I can live with that) but will even out some and straighten up in time.

I like this answer better.

Because this is in a prominant spot in my front yard I like the fact that this staking product isn't as obvious looking as others I've seen, and because the tree is older-- 7 foot tall (2 inch wide trunk) I like that this looks stronger. The pro-option (not the cushions) seem to give the tree room to give--that is even stated in the description.

I just don't want to rip this 5 year old tree out until I at least try a less drastic option.

I'd imagine that's the type of scenario this product was designed for. Shrubs or very small trees. I think you'd be better off using thinner wire stakes though.

Difficult to picture whats going on. If its growing too near the shade of a larger tree it will lean outwards and staking won't help this.

how many trunks??? or is it on a standard???

if its in the ground.. and multi leadered.. i would just start rejuvenating it .... and remove the worst of the lot ...

if on a standard... i would probably do the same ... but of course.. at a different point on the plant ...

if it is flowering .... then it is getting enough sun ...

any chance at a picture of the actual plant.. for clearer advice ...

i would never spend that kind of money on a stake ... besides the fact that PROPER PRUNING is your issue.. not PROPER STAKING ...

i THINK???? .. your plant just needs a good hair cut ... i mean really.. if you had a wad of hair twisting your head to the side.. you wouldnt stake up your head on that side.. would you??? .. i think not.. you would get a hair cut...

there are right and wrong ways to do this though... so lets clarify the facts.. and get a pic.. so we can really help ...

ken

Here are some pictures: Tons of flower buds right now, and I also didn't mention it received some damage last year from falling ice---hit one of the branches in back. I'm still not sure HOW to prune it so that it evens out. It was straight for 3-4 years. It was full on both sides for 3 years---even though yes, it gets more sun on the one side. In my gut I know it went wrong when at the 3 year mark it started weighing down on the one side, and we left it alone. I just think we screwed it up by not pruning it... back when we just stuck things in the ground, watered when we thought about it and left them to fend for themselves. It's actually amazing that the thing grew at all under our care ;)

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As I figured its merely growing out towards the sunlight and staking will not solve your issue. This fall I'd begin
removing some wood from that central leader and keep it AND the far outwards facing leader cut back some while the far left leader slowly becomes more dominant. In time, with the increasing girth, the stem will appear to be straighter.

You won't ever be able to have a symmetrical plant with a single straight stem and a gumdrop top even on all 5 sides with it planted in that spot. Not with a plant that size atleast. Just my opinion.

BTW,

"i THINK???? .. your plant just needs a good hair cut ... i mean really.. if you had a wad of hair twisting your head to the side.. you wouldnt stake up your head on that side.. would you??? .. i think not.. you would get a hair cut... "

LOL :)

the very root of the issue.. is that that cute little plant .. a few years back ... was planted TOO CLOSE TO THE HOUSE ... and the is the inherent issue to the lean ...

now that it has become established [and growing like the weed it is] .... it will need one of two things.. probably both ..

if it were me.. i would move it at the proper time of year.. into more sun.. and let it be what it can become ...

and.. some pruning ... since its elevated as a tree form .. you will need to learn how to do that ... and get it that hair cut ... [i was inspired earlier.. eh.. lol] ...

i dont know where you are.. or forgot.. so its hard to give precise thoughts about pruning... it would be so much easier if it had no leaves.. to discuss its structure ...

do you have a spot for full sun???

ken

Ok, I'm giving up. I don't have a spot for it in full sun. But maybe someone I know could find a place for it. It's such a pretty tree :(

ANY suggestions as to what I can plant in the center of this bed? I really would like a tree of some sort for height. AND would like it to be white flowering. I'm so sad I have to start over. It was the one thing in my front yard over than 1 year old. Ugh.

Personally I thought it looked fine, and would still look fine if not better if the rear leader was trained to become dominant. Do what you want though.

Really??? How do I train that rear leader to be more dominant? How exactly should I prune it? I guess sad as it may be, I really did want the "symmetrical plant with a single straight stem and a gumdrop top even on all 5 sides." For this spot I was going for a more formal look.

We did stake it at the end of last summer, and this Spring, it was straight.... UNTIL it leafed out fully, and now is bending again. Here is a picture of what it looked like in April:
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I would love advice on pruning. I've read up on it, but still am confused as to how to even it out.

Here is a picture of what it looked like this year before it leafed out:

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Thanks for taking the time to advise--I do appreciate it.

From this angle I see that third leader isn't very large at all and probably shouldn't take over. Some improvement can still be had with pruning and I'll try my hand at private email messaging you about how to best go about that when I return in two days. Surely someone else will have filled in to help you out by then though. Only other concern is the fact that it appears to be planted too deeply which could bring you additional problems in the future.

I just cant see any reasonable incentive for the tree to grow foliage towards the house. Its still attractive. Just its going to grow towards the light. You can sorta tame this with pruning for some time.

Even in the April picture it looks like the tree places less value on foliage on the house side.

To make a joke: A funny thought would be installing a few dozen spot or grow lights on the porch facing it. How many I wonder......

That plant doesn't have a dominant leader. And it's leaning toward the light. And too close to the house. It doesn't need pruning in general, just an appropriate site.

Dan

See what I mean about the 2 schools of thought? Always.

Dan, if I do choose to move it (I'll have to give it a home with a friend as I have no other place to put it) what CAN I put there for height? Why is it that I see houses with trees in front of their porch all the time, growing just fine? Is it really too much to ask to put a small tree there? I can move it out some, but only about a foot. I suppose I could put a large annabelle hydrangea bush there... Here is a view of the house:

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On the right (cut off in the picture) there is a kousa dogwood in front of the porch (further out from the house) and on the right side of the house a hedge of 8 limelight hydrangeas.

Bushhog, you really think pruning will even it out? It was at on time a beautiful tree.... Do you think I caused the unevenness by never pruning? You mentioned it is too deep... at this point, is it less risky to leave it or dig it up?

Leave it alone.
It's good for 2-3 more years. Plenty of time to plan for a replacement that's more size-appropriate.

I wonder which of the schools of thoughts this falls into?!

Lol--- I'm guessing "Middle School" ;)