A device for anchoring a ladder to the ground and a method for setting up a ladder against a standing object is disclosed. The device comprises of two anchoring members, each having a brace member configured for containing and securing one of the ladder legs, adapted for engaging with the ground and adapted for pivoting from a front side to a back side of the anchoring members. In another embodiment, each of the brace members is configured for containing the bottom rung of a ladder for situations where the legs cannot be secured by the brace member. The method for setting up a ladder against a standing object such as a tree comprises of bracing the legs or the bottom rung by the brace members and anchoring the device to the ground while the ladder is laying flat on the ground, then raising the ladder toward the standing object.