How do I stake evergreens?

[mrusk]

So I am doing this planting job. We are putting in 6' 14' doug firs. BTW these trees were heavy! Trees are sitting in the holes right now. Tomorrow we will backfill and stake. I never had to stake a tree before since we never really planted much big stuff before.

Please explain how to properly stake.

[HRLand]

Do you really need to, we've never staked trees that big.

[ClearValley]

If the root balls are in good shape and you planted them properly, i.e. the holes are big enough and not tapered toward the bottom, you should be fine. Make sure your backfill soil if fine not chunky. I typically backfill with screened top soil. No chunks of clay to deal with.
Remove burlap at least across the top and sides. Check that trunk is stabile. If it moves too easily I would stake, (Three stakes evenly placed about two feet out from drip line.
And at an angle. I use wire and old pieces of hose to secure although somplaces sell kits. Never used them. If the trunk is stabile you should be fine.
Backfill and compact with your feet gently about halfthe soil then water in thouroughly to allow water to move soil around ball more evenly. Let the hole drain and continue backfilling. If the water perks easily we will give the hole a second shot of water.

[Harmony Design Group]

If it is a windy site you might want to stake. I would use 2' wood stakes with hose harness. Put 3 per trees.
http://www.ag.auburn.edu/hort/landscape/images/tree_staking2.jpg
You could also use 8' stakes pound them in a few feet.

[Meanix]

I heard that the staking not only helps the trees from falling over but keeps new roots in tact. Does this make sense?

[mrusk]

We only had to stake 4 out of the 6 trees. We only had to put 1 stake on each tree to keep them straight. The trees were extremely hard to handle.

[GDK]

Don't stake unless absolutely necessary.....if you do have to stake, stake as low as possible....trees produce the hormone ethylene at a greater rate when the trunk sways in the wind...This hormone strengthens the tree trunk....too many trees are staked and too many trees are weakly produced.

http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-FAQ-6.pdf

[MuirView Design]

GDK - Great fact about the ethylene. I'll have to log that one to memory so I can sound smart when talking to a HO.

[danf]

Yep, we only stake when absolutely necessary.

Matt, I know how nasty those trees are to handle- we just planted 52 white pines and 53 Norway spruce that were a minimum of 10' tall each. A fair number of them were 13-14' tall. All were planted on top of mounds- 4 of us planted all of them in 5 working days. ;) Unfortunately we'll probably end up staking more than several of them due to wind issues. :rolleyes:

[MuirView Design]

How long do you guys usually leave your stakes on for?

[Harmony Design Group]

No more then 1 year.

[4seasons]

take off before the tree girdles the wire.
usually 1 - 1 1/2yrs.
We neverstake either unless specced or really bad winds.

[GDK]

Yes, don't leave it for more than 1 year...Depends on the rate of tree establishment, so keep it for as short as possible.

[ClearValley]

Don't stake unless absolutely necessary.....if you do have to stake, stake as low as possible....trees produce the hormone ethylene at a greater rate when the trunk sways in the wind...This hormone strengthens the tree trunk....too many trees are staked and too many trees are weakly produced.

http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-FAQ-6.pdf


Good articile dude. Thanks for posting it. I am going to make prinouts for customers who look at me funny when I tell them I typically don't stake.

[GDK]

Good articile dude. Thanks for posting it. I am going to make prinouts for customers who look at me funny when I tell them I typically don't stake.

No prob....sadly few too many read these publications

[danf]

Purdue Extension has many articles out there. ;)

Go Boilers. :D