Proper staking is essential for newly planted pleached trees to establish themselves securely over the first few years. Stakes provide vital support, prevent wind-induced rocking, and stabilize the root systems. This helps your tree grow straight and strong, ensuring healthy development and protection against adverse weather conditions.
Staking Pleached Trees: Your Personal 6-Step Guide
Step 1: Prepare Your Kit Before planting, gather your staking kit, including two wooden stakes and rubber ties. You'll need one kit per tree. If you have access to a stake driver, it will make hammering the stakes in much easier.
Step 2: Position Stakes Place the stakes at opposite ends of the planting hole to avoid damaging the tree's roots.
Step 3: Secure Stakes Hammer each stake vertically into the ground at least 40cm deep. This ensures a solid support structure. In very windy areas, additional staking may be necessary.
Step 4: Protect the Trunk Position the tree upright and attach it securely to the stakes using the rubber ties. Rubber ties are durable and gentle on the trunk, preventing damage.
Step 5: Regular Monitoring Regularly check the tree ties to ensure they are not too tight as the tree grows. Adjust or loosen the ties as necessary to accommodate the tree's development.
Step 6: Aftercare After about two to three years, assess if the tree has developed enough root and trunk strength to support itself. Carefully remove the stakes and fill any resulting holes with topsoil.
Tree Staking Kit For optimal support and stability, add our Tree Staking Kit to your order. It’s affordably priced and designed to give your new trees the best start. Our double staking kit is perfect for trees with clear stems from 150cm to 200cm, consisting of two 180cm stakes and rubber ties.
Further Resources Check out the RHS guide on How to Stake a Tree for more information.
Happy planting!