Rescuing Snow-Bent Arborvitae: Staking and Straightening Techniques

Hello Walter,

Arborvitae that are leaning after heavy snow rarely straighten on their own. If they're under 6 ft tall and leaning less than 30°, you can often pull them upright and secure them with an H-stake system:

1. Drive two sturdy stakes 6–8 inches from the trunk, 2.5 ft apart, on opposite sides.
2. Attach a crosspiece ⅔ up the stakes to form an H.
3. Loop a tree tie (available at garden centers) around the trunk and the crosspiece, padding the bark with burlap or old cloth.
4. Gently winch the trunk upright and tighten the tie.
5. Check and retighten every 2–3 weeks until the tree stands straight.

Taller or more severely bent specimens may never fully recover; the leader may curve upward, but the trunk will retain a permanent lean. In those cases, replacement is often the best long-term solution.

Gill