While most trees, including citrus trees, benefit from staking after planting, stakes can do serious damage if they’re installed incorrectly or left on the tree for too long. Knowing how to stake up citrus trees properly ensures your orange, grapefruit, and lemon trees get off to a strong start for a long and fruitful life. This guide explains the materials and steps for staking up citrus trees, and how to tell when it’s time to remove stakes.
Do All Citrus Trees Need Staking?
Citrus trees don’t always need tree stakes, but stakes can help new trees settle in faster and prevent damage in windy weather. Tree stakes are particularly beneficial for bare-root or top-heavy trees, dwarf citrus trees with smaller root systems, and trees growing on slopes and in windy areas. However, semi-mature citrus trees with larger trunks and trees growing in sheltered areas may not need to be staked at all, and tree stakes should be removed from any citrus tree once its trunk is sturdy and its roots are well-established.
When to Stake Citrus Trees
The best time to stake up citrus trees is when you plant them in your garden. This ensures that the plants are protected from breaks right from the start and will help you avoid disturbing the trees’ roots. However, you can add stakes later if needed, for example if a tree starts to lean or strong winds buffet them.
Staking Techniques
There are several techniques for staking citrus trees, and the method you choose will depend on your gardening style, your tree, and the materials you have on hand. Many growers stake citrus trees with wooden or bamboo garden stakes or plastic or metal tree or tent stakes and twine, but you can also find premade tree-staking kits that include all the materials you need for staking citrus plants.
How many tree stakes you need depends on the tree size and how windy your growing location is. If your tree’s trunk is less than 3 inches in diameter, you can use just one angled tree stake positioned on the windward side of the tree. However, you may need to use two or three stakes if you’re working with a larger tree or growing trees in a very windy location.
Steps for Staking a Citrus Tree
Here are the materials and steps for staking citrus trees with a three-stake system, but which can be modified to suit your specific tree and growing conditions.
What You Need
- 3 sturdy stakes of equal size
- Outdoor-grade twine or cord
- A length of old garden hose or rubber tubing
- Sledgehammer
1. Cut hose to length.
If you’re using an old garden hose, cut it into three equal sections that are each several inches longer than the diameter of the tree’s trunk. These hose sections will be used as spacers to keep the twine from rubbing against the tree’s trunk and causing damage.
2. Plant the tree.
Dig a planting hole that’s as deep as the tree’s root ball and two to three times wider. Amend the excavated soil with a little compost or aged manure, plant the tree in the hole so that the top of the tree’s root ball is level with the soil line, and backfill the planting hole with amended soil. Water the tree well and add mulch to block weeds.
3. Install tree stakes.
Position the tree stakes just beyond the tree’s root area and drive the stakes into the soil at a 45-degree angle with a sledgehammer. Space multiple stakes evenly around the tree and sink them into the soil to a depth of at least 16 to 18 inches to ensure they don’t budge.
4. Add twine.
Cut the twine into three equal lengths and thread each length of twine through one length of garden hose. Secure one length of twine about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way up the tree’s trunk or just above the first set of tree branches. Carefully position the garden hose spacer against the tree’s trunk so that the twine isn’t touching the tree’s bark.
Create a loop or figure-8 pattern with the twine and fasten the opposite side of the twine to the nearest tree stake at a 45-degree angle. Repeat this process two more times until each length of twine is secured to the tree and a tree stake. The twine should be tied tightly enough so that the tree doesn’t bend over in bad weather but loose enough that the tree can grow and rock back and forth a little when the wind blows.
5. Check stakes regularly.
Check the tree stakes throughout the year—especially after storms—to ensure the ties haven’t slipped and aren’t rubbing against the tree’s bark or growing into the tree. If needed, adjust the ties to accommodate growing trees and protect the bark from damage.
6. Remove stakes.
Tree stakes help establish new trees, but they should be removed after one to two years when the trees are well-rooted. Overstaking—leaving stakes attached to your trees for too long—increases the chances of girdling the trunk as it grows and weakens tree trunks so they’re actually more susceptible to wind damage.
Tips for Staking Up Citrus Trees
Staking citrus trees is a relatively easy process, but here are a few more tips to keep in mind when staking citrus trees or any other trees in your garden.
- Choose flexible materials. When staking up citrus trees, select soft, flexible materials that won’t stretch or break, such as nylon twine and rubber tubing. Unlike metal wire, these bendable materials move with the tree and are less likely to damage delicate bark.
- Allow for movement. Never stake trees so tightly that their trunks feel rigid. Allowing the trees to move a bit in the wind makes the trunks stronger over time.
- Install a crossbar if needed. If you’re staking a large tree that needs extra support, installing crossbars between the stakes can make them even stronger. For added strength, use two to three stakes per tree and secure the trunk to each stake at the base and middle of the tree using two lengths of twine per tree stake.
- Keep the wind in mind. Orient the tree stakes in the direction the wind usually blows through your yard. If the wind usually comes from the north and you want to stake your tree with two tree stakes, position the tree stakes on the north and south sides of the tree.
- Use taller stakes for visibility. If you’re staking trees in a high-traffic area, use taller tree stakes or mark the stakes with bright paint or colorful ribbons to reduce tripping hazards.
- Ask for help. Staking large citrus trees may be a two-person job.
