Tips for Correctly Staking a Tree

[Earthwings]

Staking your newly planted trees will ensure they get properly established, especially in windy areas and in sandy soil. Staking prevents the tree from moving excessively and thus allows the roots to establish themselves. But if not done correctly you could end up damaging your trees.

Here are several tips for correctly staking your trees:

Use at least 2 or 3 stakes or guy wires so the tree is held firmly in place. Using just 1 stake or guy wire can cause the tree to lean and weaken the root system.
A good rule of thumb is to wrap the webbing or guy wire 1/3 up the tree or just above the first branch of the tree. This prevents the root system from moving but still allows movement at the top of the tree, which is necessary for the tree to grow strong.
When attaching stakes or guy wires to the tree use a material that will not harm the tree’s bark such as webbing or run the wire through vinyl hose.
Most importantly, and we can’t stress this enough, remove the stakes when the tree is well established and able to stand on it’s own, usually in about a year.

http://www.mogulmarketing.com/earthwings/hawaiitrees0171.jpg
Proper staking would have prevented this.

For more information on properly staking trees go to: http://www.landscapeonline.com/research/article/9776

You may also want to take a look at Berkshire Earthwings tree stakes and Berkshire Tree Ties. They look professional and are economical. http://BerkshireEarthwings.com

http://www.mogulmarketing.com/earthwings/sheffield406.jpg
A properly staked tree

[jeffslawnservice]

Thank you for this post. For someone like me who comes to this part of the site to learn more about landscaping I like reading post like this. Thanks again.

[Earthwings]

Glad to hear that you like it. We like to be helpful!

[Beartooth]

That "properly staked tree" wouldn't last 3 minutes in our Wyoming wind. We use metal T-posts driven into the ground about 18" with canvas straps and 16gauge tie wire.

[twcw5804]

I am also on here to learn and greatly appreciate this post. Thanks!