How to Stake and Tie a Tree

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (11 Ratings)

Staking and tying young trees used to be an automatic part of planting, but not anymore. Research has shown that trees grow up sturdier and healthier if they're left to move with the wind. Experts now recommend staking only if a tree will be subjected to strong gusts.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Lengths Of Garden Hoses
Trees
Wood Or Metal Garden Stakes

Step1

Buy wooden or metal stakes that are about 1/3 the height of your tree, plus at least 2 feet to be sunk into the ground. If your stakes are longer than 8 feet, 25 percent of the total length should be below ground.

Step2

Drive the stakes into either side of the hole before you set in the tree.

Step3

Secure the tree to the stakes with broad, soft straps or lengths of hose. Do not use wire, even if it's threaded inside pieces of hose; it can cut into the young trunk and cause permanent damage.

Step4

Fasten the straps tightly to the stakes and very loosely to the tree. There should be enough slack so that the tree can move up to 2 inches in every direction. If the trunk can't move, it won't grow in girth and will remain unstable.

Step5

Remove the stakes and ties within a year after planting.

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Comments

robsix6 said

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on 5/30/2007 The easiest way to stake a tree in five minutes is a Brooks Tree Brace. www.brookstreebrace.com

Not only will they install in five minutes, when you are done with them, simply take them off the tree and put the brace back in your garage. Not only will it save you time and frustration, but it will save you money when you reuse it.

symplastless said

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on 5/4/2007 http://home.ccil.org/~treeman/camb/

KESLICK AND SON MODERN ARBORICULTURE
Here are some links you may consider adding to your site. They are case
sensitive.

1. Techno Tree Biology Dictionary
http://www.treedictionary.com . Look up "logging".

2. Articles written by DR. ALEX L. SHIGO, one of the foremost authorities
worldwide on tree systems today online at
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/shigo/index.html

3. Literature Available by Dr. Shigo is here:
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/treeinfo.html

4. Hard to get Documents
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/hardtoget/index.html

5. Tree Pruning
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/tree_pruning

If you have any suggestions please let me know. 610-864-5251

John A. Keslick, Jr.
Tree Biologist
http://mercury.ccil.org/~treeman/
Beware of so-called TREE EXPERTS who do not understand TREE BIOLO