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Last fall I hired a landscaper to plant a new tree in my yard and he staked it. When should I remove the stakes?
Answer: Newly planted trees are often staked for support as their roots get established in the soil. A sturdy root system acts as the tree's anchor. Once it's in place, the stakes should be removed. Stakes left too long (or too tight) can actually cause problems—trees need to sway to grow strong trunks, and ties can girdle a tree as its diameter increases.
(Note: Staking new trees is not always necessary. For instance, trees with a sizable root ball and those planted in a relatively sheltered spot likely won't need staking. Those with a small root system or occupying a windy site are more likely to need stakes. Staking should be a judgement call. Here's a great guide to tree staking from the University of Minnesota: "Staking and guying trees.")
Stakes should be removed when they've completed their function of providing support during establishment. In general, that would be after about one growing season, which is typically time enough for tree roots to establish.
This means that a fall-planted tree could be ready for stake removal the following fall (one year). A spring-planted tree could be ready in fall of the same year (in ground for about six months). Following this timetable, carefully remove the material connecting the tree to the stakes. Leave the material tied to the stakes and leave the stakes in place. Shake the tree to feel how sturdy it stands, or even observe it for a few days. If the tree still seems wobbly, you can reconnect the stakes. (That's why it's important to leave the stakes and ties in place at first!)
For a complete guide to planting and caring for trees, shrubs and other garden plants, as well as the soil that supports them, we recommend The New Gardener's Handbook by Daryl Beyers.
Image credit: Public domain/Bruce Dupree/Alabama Extension
