Historically, a crook at the bud union of a tree, referred to in the industry as a "dogleg," downgrades a tree and presents a production problem in both shade and fruit trees.

Frank Schmidt Jr. speculated that there should be some way to straighten the bud as it emerged from the graft union, perhaps with a piece of metal.

Frank Schmidt III took the idea to the shop, disappeared for a while, and emerged with a device made from strips of galvanized metal -- and the Grow-Straight Plant Growth Control Stake was born.

The Schmidts patented the device in 1995 and told the world that doglegs belong on dogs. Today, the Grow-Straight Stake is used by growers internationally to produce straight-trunked trees.

The Grow-Straight Stake won the Wholesale Nursery Growers Association "Best New Idea" award in 1977.

Other Schmidt innovations:
1977. Developed the Customized Canopy concept of producing large trees that have been grown with a well-branched head with straight, single leaders to well above 10 feet tall.
1986. TreeForm illustrations developed by Schmidt horticulturist Keith Warren revolutionized the way trees are described in nursery catalogs.
1993. Published "Priceless" tree reference guide for customers.
1995. Developed UtiliTrees line of small-stature shade and flowering trees for planting beneath utility lines.
1995. Introduced the Tree Locator service for landscape architects, urban foresters and others to locate Schmidt trees in landscape sizes.
1996. Introduced VigorLiner series of unusual trees that are difficult to handle bare root; grown in containers to solve transplant problems.