For those who install

[jimmyq]

I am curious as to what everyone uses for staking materials. I tend to use pre-grommetted tree straps.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

I buy arbor-tie be the big roll, very useful for guying and training in many places. More and more often i find ways it can be used instead of pruning to correct poor form.

For staking, I see the straps used a lot. they're wider, so that's an advantage, eh?

 

[Stumper]

I 'm not voting because none of your choices come close!. I use jute twine and strips of burlap. The natural earth tones blend into the background well and the material is self regulating-If people fail to remove it it falls apart on its own in a couple of years.

 

[jimmyq]

Stump, sorry for muffling your voice on this poll . I haven't seen jute and burlap before but I think its a great idea, makes a world of sense.

 

[Dadatwins]

Why not choice for no staking? I have planted a few trees and never staked. 2 -3" caliper 8 -12' tall. Just planted a Dogwood in memorial to a passed neighbor at widows house and no stakes. Tree is in full leaf/flowering and stable in the ground. Have seen some research by VA tech that is against any staking just promotes proper planting. The trees I have planted have been balled/burlaped and wire basket. Also some container trees. I guess if you are doing bare root planting stakes necessary but I do not think as a rule all trees should be staked. Just my opinion.

 

[jimmyq]

Dada - actually, most of my plantings go in without stakes too. unless its a windswept area or high traffic public area I usually leave the tree alone.

 

[Toddppm]

Haven't staked a tree in years unless it was an uprooted previously planted tree.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

I see installers avoid staking by burying or creating big donuts above the root ball. this rots roots.

Maybe 30-50% of installations here seem to need staking, because we expect high winds in summer storms. I like that burlap idea a lot; arbor-tie even when spiraled around the trunk can eventually damage bark.

 

[Nickrosis]

Staking seems necessary only for bareroots and in situations where vandalism is a threat. In those instances, I've used those wider straps with metal grommets.

Even staking won't deter everyone, I've had a staked tree pulled out and dragged hundreds of yards, up seven flights of stairs to a handicap-accessible stall/shower and planted in the toilet with plenty of fertilizer and water. This was done the night we planted it and replanted by Protective Services the same evening.

 

[NeTree]

Presently arbor-tie, when necessary.

After trying out the duckbills though, I might start using them more.

 

[Menchhofer]

I agree with the others. I cannot remember the last time I had to stake a tree..either containerized or balled and burlaped.

As a general rule it is not needed but there are exceptions to every rule...

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

We have a local nursery here. They have huge inventory and deal with many commercial clients. In speaking to one of their tree movers, he said they were moving 9" DBH hardwoods with a tree spade less than 80".
When I suggested the tree was too big for the spade, he said survivability is no problem, it's been root pruned regularly, the only problem is tipping.

 

[okietreedude1]

We dont plant a lot but used to use a 8-10" chunk of old garden hose to wrap around the tree and use elec. fence wire for the wire. the hose only made a horseshoe around the tree.

This yr we switched from the hose to a 2" webbing material.

A local nursery has a guy that doesnt like staking anything. They had a tree blow over and the entire raised bed it was in had to be redone (crappy fill soiil).

As for how often we stake.................every tree. Being in w. Ok. it can get pretty windy.

I too like the burlap idea.

 

[Nickrosis]

Originally posted by Mike Maas
When I suggested the tree was too big for the spade, he said survivability is no problem, it's been root pruned regularly, the only problem is tipping.

And now root pruning is being discredited because of the volume of wounds to the tree...

It's time for all 2" caliper nursery trees to be bareroot trees. Haha. I put Guy in charge of enforcement.

 

[coydog]

today i guyed two aspens :
duckbill anchors to small diameter steel cable terminated into Cobra system.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by Nickrosis
And now root pruning is being discredited because of the volume of wounds to the tree...

It's time for all 2" caliper nursery trees to be bareroot trees. Haha. I put Guy in charge of enforcement.

A more thankless job I cannot imagine; I gotta pass. I already enforce proper planting in my area 1 yard at a time and it's a steep climb. I carry the ANSI Planting standards, ISA brochures, Himelick's books, etc.

I show them to the installing crews when I can catch them, and to the unlucky/screwed tree owners. If paid to (and it's part of the consult) I exhume the misplanted trees and demo root straightening, mulching etc.

thanks anyway nick but i already have enough of that work. I'm proposing to present at the next nursery/landscape mtg but don't expect to get on; no one wants to hear that they need to change their ways or trees wil die.