By Tim Clancy, for Let’s Talk Plants! March 2025.
Time For a New Day - “Tree Stake Removal Day”
There is no shortage of days designated for one thing or the other; Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Flag Day, and of course Arbor Day. I am proposing that we add a new day to the list, “Tree Stake Removal Day”. Furthermore, I suggest that May 4th will be the annual day designated for this event. I have chosen this date for two reasons, one practical and the other sentimental. May 4th is mid spring and as such, pretty much any municipality in the country is past cold snowy, rainy days and working outside is not entirely unpleasant. More importantly, May 4th is my mother’s birthday. And since I thought if it, I think I should get the honor of choosing the day.
Tree stakes are used in the nursery trade for several practical reasons I suppose. The real benefit to the nursery trade is faster growing trees relative to height. Trees manufacture a special type of wood known as “reaction wood”. This is the wood that helps a tree stand up on its own. When a tree stake is placed close to the trunk as we see with nursery stakes (which are about 3/8ths inch square often colored green) and then secured with what we call nursery tape (that green plastic stuff) the tree concludes that it does not need to make any wood to hold itself up. It is somewhat analogous to having a cast on a broken arm. After a short while the muscles atrophy due to the presence of the cast. The resources typically used to create reaction wood are then used to grow taller faster.
Usually when a tree is planted in the Southern California landscape the nursery stake is removed. If the technician is well trained, they will also fill in the hole left adjacent to the trunk in the soil. Depending on multiple factors, the tree may stand on its own. However, if the tree cannot stand on its own then it is customary to re-stake the tree but now with much larger more robust stakes also called lodgepoles. Usually, two per tree and these are secured to the trunk with tree ties. And then, promptly forgotten.
You could not be criticized if after several years of casual observation you came to the conclusion that some trees need to be permanently staked. You can even find trees that still have the nursery stake on them long after planting. I assure you that the trees do not need to be permanently staked. Some of the literature recommends removal after the first year and this seems entirely reasonable. If the tree can’t stand on its own after a year (or maybe two) then perhaps it’s time for another tree.
There are trees in the City of Encinitas where I live, shop and recreate that have been staked for two or more years. You can see many of them as of this writing (02/25/2025) on Highway 101 in Leucadia. Many of the trees were planted as part of the Leucadia Streetscape project. Mostly my objection is to the appearance of trees being staked with two more tree stakes (stakes are made from lodgepole pines) and left for seemingly forever. For the most part, leaving support stakes more than one year leads to problems with the tree ties. If they are not adjusted, then they often girdle trunks. However, leaving the actual stake in the ground is not detrimental to the tree.
So again, I propose a nationwide tree stake removal day.
This would be a day when all tree stakes are inspected and removed if possible. If it is deemed unadvisable to remove the stake, then this day can be an inspection and re-stake day. Tree ties should be adjusted and perhaps one of the typical two stakes can be removed.
Happy Birthday Mom!
Tim Clancy & Associates LLC
P.O. Box 1180 – Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007
International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist No. WE-0806A
International Society of Arboriculture - Tree Risk Assessment Qualified
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