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When to remove stakes from trees?

ThankthecatThankthecat Posts: 421
edited May 2018 in Problem solving
Early in 2017 we planted a silver birch and a rowan in our very exposed garden. When should we remove the stakes? I've read that if you leave them too long the trees become dependent on them... An apple tree planted in 2010 fell over twice last year. It is on MM106 and had been staked for four years. We have now replaced the stake and accept it will probably have to stay for good, but I don't want the same to happen with my new trees. 
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  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Depends on the age of the tree when you planted it, soil type, height of the tree, when you planted it, lots of things really. I've found young wild tree species will root easily even without stakes if planted young enough. I planted a couple of rowans in the last few years along with a load of other seed grown trees and didn't bother to stake any. The theory is that a bit of wind rock encourages vigour in the root growth.

    Apple trees are a bit different as the root stocks vary and they tend to be a bit root bound a sluggish to make more roots when you buy them.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • ThankthecatThankthecat Posts: 421
    edited May 2018
    Thanks Wild Edges - I don't know how old the birch and rowan are but the birch is around 12' tall now and the rowan about 10'. I think they've both at least doubled in height since we planted them.  Our soil is stony loam, only around 18" - 2' of topsoil and then it's shillet :(  Sounds awful, but there ARE plenty of large mature trees around, including a 70' Monterey Cypress just 30 feet away in a neighbour's garden, so it can be done. 

  • ThankthecatThankthecat Posts: 421
    Blimey, time flies! I've just checked on the Ashridge Trees website, where I ordered them from, and it seems they've been in the ground two years, not one... Better get those stakes out, yes?
  • ThankthecatThankthecat Posts: 421
    Probably jumped the gun asking on here. I've just spoken to Ashridge and they advise loosening the ties and giving the trees a wiggle. If there's no obvious soil movement above the roots then remove ties but leave the stakes in place and keep an eye on the weather. If we get a windy day I'll go back and check again and if there's any sign of movement in the soil they can just be tied back onto the stakes again. Nerve wracking ain't the word for it!
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Just checked the landscaping design documents we use for work and they recommend removing tree supports at the end of year 3. Roots will be growing from now until the ground gets cold in the winter so up to you if you use that time to let them grow extra support while staked. I'd remove the ties, give the tree a wobble to see how strong it feel and then judge it on that. Trees root well here but we're on heavy clay which holds on tightly to everything.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    edited May 2018
    Yes this is why the modern advice is to stake low down to allow for a bit of movement as @wild edges says.
    The mm106 rootstock is very dwarfing. I would expect a tree like that to be staked all it's life, unless it's in a very sheltered spot.
    AB Still learning

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Thankthecat said:
    Probably jumped the gun asking on here. I've just spoken to Ashridge and they advise loosening the ties and giving the trees a wiggle. If there's no obvious soil movement above the roots then remove ties but leave the stakes in place and keep an eye on the weather. If we get a windy day I'll go back and check again and if there's any sign of movement in the soil they can just be tied back onto the stakes again. Nerve wracking ain't the word for it!
    Looks like I was typing the same thing when you posted that. :D

    Rowan trees are tenatious creatures. Come up into the Welsh hills and see the places they can find to root into. They survive the winds and the sheep while clinging to a tiny scrap of thin soil.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    wild edges said:

    Rowan trees are tenatious creatures. Come up into the Welsh hills and see the places they can find to root into. They survive the winds and the sheep while clinging to a tiny scrap of thin soil.
    True, but we only see the ones that do survive. In a garden we want all one or two or three of them to make it!
  • ThankthecatThankthecat Posts: 421
    Good point DGM - we invest so much time and energy into our plants and they become too precious to lose!
  • ThankthecatThankthecat Posts: 421
    edited May 2018
    Allotment Boy said:
    The mm106 rootstock is very dwarfing. I would expect a tree like that to be staked all it's life, unless it's in a very sheltered spot.

    *sorry - I meant to add to this but somehow jumped up into the 'quote' box! I was going to say I did research before buying the apple tree and the RHS said the MM106 was semi-dwarfing. I only wanted a small tree but chose this rootstock as the soil is quite poor and with the exposed conditions... ah well, staked for life it is!


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