Plant staking provides external support to a plant’s stem or branches to keep it upright. This technique addresses the natural weakness of plants unable to support their own weight, especially when they are tall, have heavy flowers, or are laden with fruit. Staking prevents the stem from collapsing during strong winds or heavy rain. Keeping the plant vertical improves air circulation and maximizes sunlight exposure, supporting robust growth and reducing the risk of disease.
Identifying Plants That Need Support
A plant’s need for support is determined by its height-to-stem-diameter ratio, the weight of its blooms or fruit, and environmental conditions. Tall, slender ornamental plants are frequent candidates for staking because their stems are easily damaged by lateral forces. For example, delphiniums and hollyhocks, which grow over five feet tall, require single-stake support to prevent their flower spikes from snapping.
Perennial flowers with heavy blooms, such as peonies and dinner-plate dahlias, often flop over, especially after rain saturates the petals. In the vegetable garden, plants like tomatoes and cucumbers produce heavy fruit on weak, sprawling vines that benefit from vertical support. Staking keeps the fruit off the soil, preventing rot and making harvesting easier. Plants in exposed areas that experience frequent high winds also benefit from preventive staking to anchor them against adverse weather.
Selecting Appropriate Staking Materials
The choice of support material must match the plant’s growth habit, size, and the duration of support required. Single stakes, suitable for plants with a dominant central stem, come in materials like bamboo, untreated wood, or metal. Bamboo stakes are lightweight and cost-effective, while metal stakes are durable and reusable.
For bushy or clump-forming perennials like peonies or asters, a cage, hoop, or grow-through support is more appropriate than a single stake. Tomato cages and wire hoops surround the plant, supporting multiple stems as they grow through the structure. Trellises, typically used for vining vegetables such as pole beans and cucumbers, provide a large, flat surface for climbing and maximize vertical growing space.
The material used to tie the plant to the stake must be non-abrasive and flexible. Soft materials are preferred because they will not cut or chafe the delicate stem tissue. These include:
- Jute or sisal twine
- Strips of cloth
- Specialized hook-and-loop plant ties
Avoid using thin wire or plastic ties that constrict the stem as the plant expands in diameter, restricting the flow of nutrients and water.
Practical Steps for Effective Staking
Effective staking begins with proper timing, inserting the support early in the plant’s life cycle before it has developed a need to lean or flop. Preventive staking, done when the plant is first put in the ground or when it is still young, trains the stem to grow straight from the start. This early intervention also prevents accidental root damage, which can occur if a stake is driven into the soil near an established plant.
When inserting a single stake, position it four to six inches away from the main stem to avoid disturbing the root ball. The stake must be driven deep enough into the soil to ensure stability, with a depth of at least 12 inches often necessary to withstand wind pressure. The height of the stake should reach about two-thirds to three-quarters of the plant’s expected mature height.
To secure the plant, use a soft tie and employ the “figure-eight” tying technique. This is accomplished by looping the tie around the stake, crossing it over between the stake and the stem, and then looping it around the stem. This method creates a cushioning buffer that prevents the stem from rubbing directly against the rigid stake, minimizing abrasion and bark damage. The tie should be snug enough to hold the plant upright but loose enough to allow natural movement and accommodate future stem thickening. As the plant grows taller, check the ties regularly and add new ties every six to eight inches along the stem to maintain support. It is also important to loosen any existing ties that may be constricting the stem’s circumference.