Bamboo stake on newly planted Maple tree (stuck in ground)

[scott784]

I just had a red maple planted today. Rather than leave the bamboo stake strapped around the tree (came that way from the nursery), I decided I wanted to pull the bamboo stake out of the ground (after planting today). But these stakes seem like "the devil" to pull out of the ground! I tried, but the stake was not moving!

Question: would it hurt the newly planted tree if the bamboo stake is simply cut off at ground level? Some people say the underground part of the bamboo stake will rot away in a year or two. Or will that hurt the future growth and health of the tree? I may try again tomorrow to pull the bamboo stake out of the ground. But if that won't work, I am considering just cutting the bamboo stake off at ground level.

Can anyone provide thoughts on this? This was a larger size maple tree (came out of 25 gallon container); and I just want to do the right thing. I've seen those bamboo stakes cause damage to the tree bark (if left in there for too long).

 

[Anniekay]

You can just cut it off if you can't pull it up, but it's best to remove it. They do it that way at the nursery so that the tree will grow straight in the pot. but There are a few ways to stake a tree. The best way to stake IMHO, it is to put a stake in the ground a couple feet away from the rootball and pound it in at a 45 degree angle, then tie it to the tree in a figure 8 pattern a bit loosely. This will keep the tree roots from coming up in a high wind but let the top of the tree still sway a bit. The single stake method is easiest and does the best job.

 

[cpp gardener]

Just cut it off. It will take several years to decompose, but the tree’s roots have already grown around it and it won’t interfere with their continued growth.
Use a stake, or stakes, ONLY if the tree won’t stand on its own. It will be much stronger if it is allowed to move in the breeze.

 

[scott784]

I've noticed with smaller pots (i.e. 7 gallon sizes), those bamboo stakes are very easy to remove at the time of planting. But when you buy a larger tree (i.e. 25 gallon size) like what I've got, they don't want to come out so easy - at least with some of them!

From what I've seen, I would say to anyone, try to remove the bamboo stakes strapped around these larger trees "before" you even put it in the ground - just after the hole is dug. Otherwise, it's harder to get leverage when you start pulling! Tried again this morning to remove the bamboo stake strapped around this newly planted tree in the ground. It just wouldn't come out and broke off at ground level, at the base of the tree.

Hopefully, as cpp gardener mentioned, the bamboo will decompose after several years; and the roots will grow around it and not interfere with continued growth. As far the real (actual) stakes people put in after planting a tree in the yard (not the ones strapped to a tree while it's in the pot), I've got that "triple" stake type that Anniekay showed in the post above. I am debating on whether to use that system, or just let it go with no staking. This tree came out of a 25 gallon container and seems very stable in the ground.

I appreciate the posts here with feedback.

 

[Anniekay]

The thing is, if you have high winds before the roots have grown out laterally and gotten a good, deep hold in the ground, your tree could blow over, exposing the roots, ripping away feeder roots and drying out the roots with the air.

Always best to stake it, IMHO, the one stake option holds the roots in the best while allowing the top to sway and that swaying on top strengthens the tree without disturbing the roots.

 

[scott784]

Yes, I was thinking about those high winds too during storms! So I went ahead and staked it using some stakes I already had. The upper part of the tree is slightly leaning to one side, but I didn't want to tie the rope too tight. At any rate, hopefully this will protect it through the coming winter and spring storms.

 

[cpp gardener]

Ah, the storms. We get so few of those it skips my mind that they can be a problem. The shortest stakes you can use, placed outside the rootball, will do the Job without weakening the tree.

Thanks, Anniekay!