To stake or not to stake a new tree?

Question

I live in Michigan and just about a month ago planted a baby Eastern Redbud tree. It's about 5-6 feet tall and the trunk is between 1 maybe 2 inches around. It came with a long plastic rod attached to it with like garbage bag ties attaching the rod to the tree. I did put a stake into the ground to help with support & I attached the rope from the stake to the plastic thing attached to the tree trunk.

Now my question is should I have staked it? If yes, how many stakes should I use & how long dose it need to be staked? Should I remove the plastic rod?

Everything I seem to read says NOT to stake a new tree, unless it's not straight...my tree it pretty straight. But I am a bit worried 'cause it's so small & winters here can be pretty tough. Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

If your tree can stand without a stake, then it shouldn't need a stake. If it needs a stake, it is undersided in caliper (trunk diameter) and will only get worse by staking to immobilization....confused?

Trees develop lignin, sorta elasticized cells, through movement. If you keep them from moving, the lignin doesn't form. So trees have to wiggle from an early age. The taller they get if they have not "wiggled" then the more prone they are to fall over or break.

I understand your concern, so here's what we are going to do. Leave the stake, but tie the lower part of the trunk to the stake, say the lower 18 inches. Use cloth, that plastic, or something that will not cut into the bark......even a wire inside a garden hose will cut, so think "wide" and soft. You can put another stake on the other side if you wish, but keep the ties loose....you want the tree to be able to wiggle around, just not get blown out of the ground. Remember to wrap the trunk with tree wrap or one of those plastic tubes to prevent sunscald on the trunk.

Now come next spring when the leaves appear, untie the tree. Does it stand on it's own......sure hope so! If not, you will have to give it a growing season with another loose tie to allow it to wiggle. If after a year the tree will not support itsself, consider replacing it.

When buying a tree that has a stake, ask the nursery to untie it. If the tree flops over, select a different tree.

Answer 2

If you live in an area prone to high winds that may topple the tree before the roots get established, it is best to stake it. With a new tree, we usually recommend staking it for the first year to give it time to root in so it can anchor itself against the winds.

I recommend that you put two stakes (a tee post would work fine) just outside of the rootball. The top of the stakes should be no more than 5' high and the following ties should be installed at about 4 feet off the ground. Take note of the prevailing wind direction and put the stakes to the sides so they are opposite from that direction (not in line with the direction the wind usually blows in Winter). I.E. If the Winter wind usually blows from the North to the South, put the stakes on the East and West sides of the tree. Get an old tire innertube and cut a 2" wide strip. Some other long thin elastic material would also work. Attach it to the stakes and weave it around the tree. Don't wrap it around the trunk, just have it cross over on both sides of the trunk so that it crosses and looks like an X on both sides of the tree trunk. This will allow the tree to bend in the wind, but not topple over and be uprooted.

Go ahead and remove the rod. Remember to remove the staking after the first year since the tree should be well rooted in by then.

Answer 3

I know the new theory is not to stake, but I do!! @ least for the 1st year untill roots established and strong. You live in a harsh winter climate also,with strong winter winds, so I would stake@ least this winter. They say to use 3 stakes and loosely secure rope to all 3. I also wrap the bottom of trunk for 1 to 3 yrs. so animals/etc dont chew on the bark. I have even placed a sm. chicken wire circle around bottom of trunk to keep criters away from bottom of trunk.