Rough start for this baby. Only half of it seems alive. If experts can help?
In the city of Chicago, this is a Skyline Honeylocust. Planted in the "parkway" (area between sidewalk and street). It was planted as a 15+ foot tall sapling by city forestry workers 2.5 summers ago. I added the paving stones and got grass to grow last summer. I water ~2x week during non-cold months.
Sadly, I think the south side (right in the image) of the tree got freeze dieback during its first winter. but I have not pruned as websites say not to. All leaves and growth for past 2 years has been on the north (left) side. Note in the image with the stake how you can easily see the branches that are bare on that side. No fungus on the trunk though, no bumps, so no indication of rot or canker. It looks like a healthy tree except branches on the south don't bud/leaf.
4 weeks ago we had high winds and rain. After the storms, the tree started permanently leaning to the north (the leafy side, left in the image) and making things worse, leaves (when dry or when covered with water during rain) are heavy and make it lean even more.
It seems that the more leaves it grows on the north, the more it leans north.
So I have staked it to vertical for the past 3+ weeks. I intend to leave it staked for rest of summer season.
I'm no expert, just a guy who wants a healthy and relatively vertical tree in front of his house.
Do the experts here have further suggestions? Should I stake it past vertical to overcorrect? Should I move the stake lower or higher (this height seemed to work best to achieve vertical due to leaf weight). Any other tools that I wouldn't think of that could be suggested?: chemicals, playing music, stopping dogs from doing dog-things to the tree?
I'd prefer to save it rather than try to replace... as replace will be difficult and expensive out of pocket cost, but I would accept "you're screwed, rip-and-replace" if a couple of bona fide experts told me that.
TIA to all experienced and knowledgeable folks that try to help.
