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Staking Tall Thin Tree

BuchBuch Posts: 40
in Problem solving
I'm planting a Prunus (Royal Burgundy) and it comes as a roughly 6ft+ thin whip, extremely floppy. How high should I stake it? Basically, everything above wherever I tie it to the stake flops completely over. Is this okay for its growth, to have the top flopping over like this?

Posts

  • InglezinhoInglezinho Posts: 568
    edited May 2021
    You need two things. First a good stout stake, about as high as the sapling - it will be a bit less once you have bashed it in a bit. Make sure it is firm. Pretend you are a hurricane force wind battering it.
    You then need a tree tie. That's what you ask for. They are mostly made of rubber these days and form two loops - one round the tree and one round the stake. The one round the stake should be pulled pretty tight, but the one round the tree should be pretty loose, to allow the trunk to expand. Locate it on the tree at its highest point before it begins to branch ie. on the main trunk. Don't worry if the upper part flaps around in the wind a bit at first. It will soon settle down. It is very rare to need a second tie. Good luck! Will you send me some of the fruit?
    Everyone likes butterflies. Nobody likes caterpillars.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited May 2021
    Have a look at this article which shows how to do it - as in the picture.
    https://garden-care.org.uk/wildlife-the-environment/the-rhs-staking-trees/

    The purpose of staking the tree is to stop the roots moving when the wind blows.
    It doesn't matter about the upper part of the tree blowing around in the wind.
    The wind blowing the thin tree trunk will make it thicker and stronger.
    The stake is there to stop the roots snapping when the top of the tree is blowing about - that's all it's there for.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • BuchBuch Posts: 40
    Pete.8 said:
    It doesn't matter about the upper part of the tree blowing around in the wind.
    So it will correct itself at some point? Here is a visual of what it looks like:


  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I would suggest you speak to the company you bought it from and ask their advice.

    I've staked a few trees in my time, but not a really floppy one

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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