The humble garden stake is a staple for many a backyard gardener. But for those without a green thumb, what do they do? Why do you need them?
Garden stakes are simple support structures that help plants grow upright and healthy. Understanding when and how to use them properly can make the difference between a thriving garden and one that struggles through each growing season.
The main function of a garden stake is to ensure that a young or weak plant can hold itself up against the elements. The main concern for weak plants is the wind, which can snap thin branches and bend soft stems easily.
A correctly installed garden stake will protect against such an assault by providing the plant with somewhat of a secondary backbone. It supports the plant, ensuring that it stays upright on even the windiest of days.
Garden stakes serve multiple purposes beyond just wind protection. They help direct growth in the desired direction, prevent fruit and vegetables from touching the ground where they might rot, and make harvesting easier by keeping plants organised and accessible.
A garden stake can be made of any material strong enough to deal with heavy winds, but you'll most commonly see them in hardwood, bamboo or plastic. Each material has its own advantages depending on your specific garden needs.
For most Australian gardens, hardwood stakes offer the best balance of strength and longevity. These 1800mm hardwood stakes work particularly well for taller plants like tomatoes, beans and young trees that need support for an extended period.
While there's a temptation to stake any plant that looks a little bit fragile or tired, garden stakes should only be used when there's a real risk of a plant being damaged. The wind serves to strengthen the plant—it has evolved to cope with the worst of Mother Nature, and allowing it do so will let it build up strength and resistance to wind.
Certain situations definitely warrant staking. Newly planted trees, top-heavy plants, climbing vegetables, and plants in exposed windy locations all benefit from proper stake support.
For shorter support needs in vegetable gardens, the 1500mm hardwood stake option provides excellent stability without overwhelming smaller plants or garden beds.
If you do have a plant which requires staking, it's best to use three stakes at a distance instead of resting the stem directly up against one. The aim is to offer support without totally shielding the plant from anything that may hurt it.
A little bit of stress is good. Triangulate three stakes around the plant, then use some tree ties to secure the stake to the stem.
This technique guards against heavy winds, but still allows the plant to move around a bit. Depending on how weak the plant is you may need to tie multiple pieces of ties between the stake and the stem.
When installing stakes, push them into the ground at least 30cm deep for stability. For trees, position stakes at a 45-degree angle pointing into the prevailing wind direction, creating a guy-wire effect that's particularly effective in stormy conditions.
Always tie plants loosely using soft materials that won't cut into the bark or stem. Figure-eight ties work brilliantly as they create a cushion between the stake and plant, preventing rubbing damage.
Garden stakes work best as part of a complete plant protection strategy. Young trees and seedlings face threats beyond just wind damage, including pest damage, harsh sun and competing weeds.
Tree guards complement stakes perfectly by protecting vulnerable bark from animal damage. These corflute tree guards shield young saplings from rabbits, wallabies and harsh weather while still allowing light and air circulation.
Weed control around staked plants is equally important since weeds compete for nutrients and water. These biodegradable jute mats suppress weeds naturally around individual plants without the need for chemicals or constant manual weeding.
Choosing the best plant can be overwhelming, but you can easily learn how to choose the best plant. When selecting your plants from the nursery, be aware that the bigger plants do not always mean they are the best—a big plant is more susceptible to shock when being transferred from pot to soil.
Look for blemishes, spots, discoloration and even pest damage on leaves and stems – these are good signs that the plant is unhealthy. Just checking the plant has been well-tended can immensely help your search for a plant to repot.
This will ensure the plant is strong and will minimise the need for stake assistance. A healthy root system matters more than top growth, so gently check that roots aren't circling the pot or growing through drainage holes.
Select plants with multiple stems rather than single-stemmed specimens when possible. They're generally stronger and more resilient to damage.
Even experienced gardeners can make staking errors that harm rather than help their plants. Tying too tightly is perhaps the most common mistake, which restricts growth and can girdle stems as they expand.
Most plants only need staking for one growing season. Check regularly and remove stakes once the plant has established a strong root system and can support itself independently.
If you would like to learn more about garden stakes, give All Stakes Supply a call on 1300 130 123 or visit www.allstakesupply.com.au to explore our range of garden stakes.
