Wrap the tape measure around the thickest part of the tree trunk. You will use this measurement to calculate how big of a trench you need to dig around the root system.  If you don’t have a flexible tape measure, you could use a piece of string and a regular tape measure. Wrap the string around the trunk, then measure how much string fit around the trunk with a regular tape measure. This method of straightening will work for trees that are to big to straighten by pulling on with a strap and stake system. Use a shovel to dig a circular trench around the trunk of the tree that is at least 10 in (25 cm) wide for every 1 in (2.5 cm) of the trunk’s diameter. Make the hole about 2 ft (0.61 m) deep.  For example, if the tree’s diameter is 20 in (51 cm), then you would need to dig a trench that is at least 200 in (510 cm) wide. If the tree is particularly large and you don’t want to dig it out yourself, you can hire a tree moving company to dig the hole with a tree spade. Really large trees will not correct easily. Consider leaving your tree leaning to avoid damaging the roots and killing your mature tree. Put the pad on the side of the tree that is leaning. Wrap the rope around the mat and tie it in a loop to secure it in place. You can use a foam pad like a camping mat, or some old blankets, as a pad to protect the tree’s bark. Get a lot of helpers to pull the tree straight, or attach the rope to a truck and slowly accelerate to start straightening the tree. Stop pulling if the tree is not moving and dig out the trench more to loosen the root system. Stop pulling and leave the rope attached to the tree and truck when the tree is standing straight. Don’t pull up the roots without loosening them first, or you risk tearing them and killing the tree. Use a shovel to pack the dirt back into the trench and cover the roots. Put as much of the dirt back in as you can to give the roots a good foundation. Remove the rope from the tree and truck after you fill in the hole. It can take at least a year for the roots to re-establish themselves once you have loosened them and shifted the tree. Pound 2-3 wooden stake posts at least 18 in (46 cm) into the ground further away from the tree than the trench you dug, so that they don't hit the root system. Wrap tree straightening straps around the middle of the trunk and secure them to the posts to hold the tree in place.  You can get special tree straps at home improvement centers. The straps will keep the tree stable so that the roots can re-establish themselves. Not all trees can be successfully straightened. Sometimes the roots have trouble re-establishing themselves. In this case, you may not be able to save the tree from dying. Before you remove the straps, try loosening them a bit to make sure the tree stands firmly on its own.
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One-sentence summary -- Measure the diameter of the tree with a flexible tape measure. Dig a trench around the base of the tree to free the roots. Place a pad on the trunk and wrap a rope around the pad. Pull the tree with the rope to straighten it. Fill in the hole around the tree with the dirt you dug out. Wrap tree straightening straps around the tree for at least 1 year.


Before you put yourself out there, try to gauge if the other person is interested in making new friends as well.  Does the person ask you questions about yourself?  Is the conversation limited to small talk or goes beyond the surface? Does the person give you his or her attention when you are around?  If you can answer yes to these questions, the person is likely open to building a friendship. If the answer is no, maybe this person is not open to building a friendship at this point. Show an interest in how your acquaintance spends his or her free time. Ask about what he or she did the previous weekend or plans to do over the upcoming one.Showing a genuine interest in an acquaintance's social life signifies that you may not mind being a part of it.  Pay attention to the person when you interact with them.  You will make more friends by showing that you are interested in the person than trying to make the person be interested in you.  This might reassure your acquaintance that you would be open to an invitation if one is extended to you. Instead of waiting for the other person to make a move, make the first move yourself. Think about an activity your acquaintance might enjoy and ask if he or she would be interested in doing it with you over the weekend. If you have primarily spending time with the person in the confines of a group (e.g. club, organization, volunteering, etc.), you need need to invite the person to hang out outside of the confines of the group.  Spending one-on-one time is key to building the friendship. You can simply say, "Hey, what are you doing on Saturday? Do you want to try out this new restaurant?" Making informal invitations is a good way to determine if someone is interested in becoming friends, but it won't actually be enough to make someone your friend. You'll need to take the extra step and actually invite them out. Accept invitations as well. You might be hesitant to accept it depending on the circumstances, but unless you have a good reason not to—like a prior commitment or a moral objection to the activity being suggested—it's better to take the risk than to pass the opportunity by. Spending time with an acquaintance can be a good way to help your relationship grow into an actual friendship, even if the activity planned for the day usually isn't something you'd plan for yourself. If you've been invited to a group event—a birthday party, a company picnic, drinks after work—you may even find yourself meeting and befriending someone there other than the person who invited you. The older you get, the more upfront you should be about your desire to become friends with someone.Directly telling someone that you want to be friends can break the ice, making it easier for your acquaintance to tell you where he or she stands, too. Suggest an activity that you would like to do with the person as well.  Say, "I'm going to _____ would you like to come?" If the person does not want to be friends, it will be easier for them to turn down the activity instead of turning down you as a person. There's no shame in telling someone, "We have a lot in common; let's try to be friends." The key is to phrase your desire as something mutually beneficial so that you don't come across as being needy or awkward. The former statement sounds much better than, "Would you please be my friend?" Casual conversation is fine for acquaintances, but if you want to turn this acquaintance into a friend, you'll need to drop the light stuff and start a heavier conversation. Vulnerability separates acquaintances from actual friends.  You must be willing to open yourself up to other people.  Start talking about your values. You don't need to reject someone whose perspective is different from yours, but it's often easier to connect with people who share your values and convictions. This may mean turning some people off, but it'll ultimately allow you to build deeper connections. Get personal. Tell people about yourself. Explain what motivated you to pursue your current career path or describe the sorts of activities you do in your free time. Ask your acquaintances more about their lives, as well. You should be honest with yourself throughout the process, too. Don't force yourself to spend hours on a topic your acquaintance loves even though you have no interest in it.
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One-sentence summary --
Figure out if the other person is interested. Ask about the other person's plans. Invite the person to hang out. Disclose your feelings. Talk about deep topics.