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When to remove tree stakes

Cottage CompostCottage Compost Posts: 496
in Problem solving
I have planted several trees of various ages and sizes in an exposed location.

Two were planted a year ago and were over 3mtrs with a girth at 1mtr from the ground of 100mm+'ish.  A Rowan Tree and a Pillar Cherry, the supplier said, leave them staked for three years.

I also bought a Liquidamber 'Slender Silhouette' a year ago that was roughly 1.5mtrs tall, 2yrs old with a girth at 1mtr of 40mm'ish.  I staked it.  It must be 2mtrs tall now.

Wondering if i should consider removing the stake?   Should i wait until it has lost its leafs so that there's a great deal less wind resistance to catch the winter's windy weather or wait until the spring or even wait another year maybe or more?

Posts

  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    I’d leave them till spring when all the windy and bad weather ( hopefully) has passed .Belt and braces ! 
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2022
    How solidly rooted do the trees seem.  I dont want be contrary, but if they did move after you had removed the stakes, they would be better resettled in the dormant period.  I think 3 years is not too long.

    I trust you have checked that the ties are not too tight.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Cottage CompostCottage Compost Posts: 496
    I trust you have checked that the ties are not too tight. 

    This is on my job's for the weekend list.  I checked in July, i'll be checking this weekend and again next July.

    For now, i'm unsure about what to do about my youngest Liquidamber.  It seems firm enough in the ground, but because of its slim main stem and height, i'm unsure.

    Tempted to change the way it's supported so that it can move but with some restraint..... a strip of rubber pond liner between two stakes, so that it can move but not too far maybe?
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    Two or three shorter stakes to anchor the root ball but allow the stem to sway, would be ideal.
    A flippant answer to your question would be 'remove stakes ASAP.'
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    Modern thinking is that 2 years is enough.
    I've planted quite a few trees in the last few years, and this is what i have been doing.
    I loosen them in the spring, after 2 full growing seasons in the ground.
    During stormy weather i will go out and inspect them. One tree had ground movement during high winds back in April, after the ties were slackened in March. I retightened the ties, and will loosen again next spring.
    Sunny Dundee
  • Cottage CompostCottage Compost Posts: 496
    Thank you to those that have contributed.
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