Will hardwood dowels work for tree stakes?

Question

The majority are 1 1/8 in. in diameter. Some are 7/8 in. Lenghts are 44in., 48 in, 60 in, and 72 in. Total footage is 500,000 ft.

Answer 1

Hey, if you got em, use em. So long as the trees they are holding up are still small. If need be with a big enough tree, use two of them, one on either side of the tree.

Then tie them off using green tape, making a figure 8 criscrossing between the tree and the dowel so as to keep the two from rubbing up against eachother. Yeah, the dowels will rot away after a few years, but by then your tree should be fairly well rooted.

Answer 2

I don't think they will be strong enough, especially in high winds. Also, the dowel will rot in the ground, causing it to be less effective, and shorter overtime. Another thing to remember when staking, use a gentle wrap for the tree, to protect the bark and to deter knots. Pantyhose work well, and the colors blend with most trees, one pair can cover several trees.