[gallucci]

Last fall I planted about 20 large pin oaks (20-30 feet high, 4-5" diameter, 32-36" balls weighing about 500lbs each) on a large, flat property for a customer. The field is on a hill and is open allowing for a lot of wind. I knew I would have trouble with these trees leaning over the winter but because of their size and because they maintain some of their leaves throughout the winter I could not figure out the best way to stake them and figured that I would have to come back in the spring and straighten them again. Spring is here and about 5-6 of them need help. Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to stake a tree of this size? Thanks for your help.

[TrickyDick]

We did a lot of that last year and after some trial and error came up with something that seems to work well. We used 1/8" cable with a small screw tensioner in the middle and plastic tubing to protect the tree. That way you can pull the cable tight by hand, clamp it and then crank it down with the tensioner. You need to locktite the screw so it doesn't wiggle loose over time. Seemed to work well with the 4-7" trees we were planted. The only ones that had any issues with leaning were the ones we didn't do very well (the trial and error period).

I know everyone has their methods for this and I'm sure someone has a better idea but that has worked well for us. A really good arborist I work with says that big trees should be tied at 2/3 the height of the tree for 1-2 years. I've also seen 4" trees staked with 6-8 foot 2x2's and ArborTie that seem to do fine.

[gallucci]

Thanks!

[sleepy]

I put "dead man" 2x4's burried in the ground about 2 feet deep with a cable attached to the PT lumber(and yes the hose treatment around the trunk). Compact the soil over the wood and if your soil is soft you will notice the pull out. may need to go deeper depending on the soil type.
I use 3 cables equaly spaced.
This holds the tree down against wind.
You dont want to use this for too long becoase you need to develop trunk taper on the tree. Meaning let the tree develop without the help.

[NCSULandscaper]

for large trees, nothing beats duckbill anchor kits..........i know you can get them from AM Leonard and im sure you can find them somewhere else cheaper if you search long enough

[gallucci]

Those are both good ideas.

Those duckbill stakes are pretty steep in price. Do you use them much?

Thanks again for the help

[gallucci]

Tricky Dick,

I am unsure what you are calling a screw tensioner. Is it like a turnbuckle or something different?

[NCSULandscaper]

i use the duckbills when i have to.......if a customer can afford a large tree, then they can afford the small amount for the right staking materials

[TrickyDick]

Yeah like a turnbuckle. We tried duckbills once but the planting areas were pretty loose, deep soil and they didn't hold well. I know a lot of people use them though.