Either I or my partner is nuts. This is about a Red Oak tree:

[karlrschneider]

It's a bit over 3 years old, now about 15 ft. tall. In January our big ice storm bent it over at about a 45 degree angle
for around 2 weeks. After the ice melted, it sprang back to maybe 30 degrees from vertical. *I* thought it would
straighten itself up but M. decided today it need some 'help' so he tied a rope to the upper main trunk and then to
a fence post and pulled it more or less upright. He says it got a "memory" from the ice bending and would grow weird.
I think that's goofy but I could be wrong. Anybody know?
:eyes:

[sazemisery]

1. Here is a resource

http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/forestry/publications/pdf/urban_community_forestry/trees_and_ice_storms_2006.pdf

From page 19:

Trees that bend under the load of accumulated ice will, in most cases, return to their pre-storm form, once the load is dissipated by melting. The mere fact that the tree did not break under the tremendous load suggests good structural integrity. Concerns surrounding trees that have bent under ice loads, center on the position of the bend along the trunk and length of time the trees remained in the
bent condition. Attention should be given to those instances in which the bend occurred in the lower 1/3 of the trunk. The position of the bend relative to the overall canopy (Figure 8), under such conditions may create internal cracks which can become a weak point in the future. Small, bent trees can be staked into an upright position to provide support while the stem grows and strengthens.

Also on page 14 it has a table for ice storm susceptibility of trees. I intend to look into the resistant ones this fall when I replace the trees we lost. I had a weeping pussy willow(6 ft) that bent over and after it thawed I staked it. So far so good.

[karlrschneider]

2. Thanks! Good info. The tree I was posting about only bent in the top third or so

and was one of very few that didn't lose any branches. I think it will be okay. Woah, it just started raining...need to make sure car windows are up! seeya