How best to straighten and anchor tree.
Thank you for contacting the Toronto Master Gardeners with your question. Many evergreens met with the same fate as your tree this past winter due to the late season snowstorm. In my own garden I was able to straighten a few cedar trees that were not too badly bent – and in one case, the trunk had experienced so much damage due to bending that the tree was beyond saving.
To begin with, I would suggest you check the extent of the damage to your evergreen. If it looks healthy with minimal damage to the trunk and main branches, aside from its bent over position, then there are steps you can take to try to correct the problem. The Spruce provides a step-by-step set of directions for exactly this purpose. Of special note, please ensure that the roots are wet when you begin the process as wet roots are easier to move and you will avoid breaking them. Another important factor is to use cables or ropes that are padded so that there is a cushion between the rope or cable and the trunk. Again this reduces damage to the trunk. In small Toronto gardens, you may have difficulty finding a spot in your yard to secure stakes as described in the article. In my garden, I used a nearby deciduous tree to anchor the ropes (again with padding between the rope and trunk) as there was no place for stakes.
Please note too, that if you are in doubt about the health of your tree or the tree is too large for you to handle safely as a do-it-yourself project, a licenced arborist can provide you with advice and services.
All the best with this gardening project.