Straighten Fruit Trees
Greg Sauer of Bangor invented the device and is marketing it along with BEI of South Haven, Mich.
The Tree Crutch is a simple device formed from a piece of PVC pipe that is crimped at one end. The pipe is sunk into the ground and the crimped end is set into a lateral limb of a fallen or leaning tree that has been pulled upright. The pressure of the tree holds the pipe in place.
On larger trees, a plug must be added to the bottom of the pipe to prevent it from sinking under the weight of the tree. Sauer said on smaller trees, he leaves the pipe in place for two years until the tree root system strengthens.
“It’s easy to use and to remove – very simple and lightweight,” said Sauer.
Each pipe is 40 inches in length, but they are easily customized by cutting them shorter in the orchard, he added.
“It’s about as simple an ideas as there can be. It saves a lot of time we used to take pounding fence posts in, tying them up and strapping them,” said Sauer.
For more information, contact Sauer at (616) 657-4093 or BEI at (616) 637-8541, e-mail info@bei-inc.com.
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