How to Stake an Apple Tree

Co-authored by Lauren Kurtz

Last Updated: November 14, 2022 References

Staking an apple tree will help the tree develop fruit and provides additional stability for a young tree or a tree that's been replanted. Dwarf apple trees are smaller than the average apple tree and tend to bear fruit earlier in life, which makes staking them important so that they don't fall over or bend as the tree grows.^{[1]
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Research source} The process of staking your apple tree is important but easy, as long as you get the right materials and follow the right steps.^{[2]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Staking a Young Tree

1
Purchase a 3 foot (0.91 m) 2x2 inch (5.08x5.08 cm) piece of lumber. You can purchase the wood for your stake at a hardware or home and gardening store. Once you get your stake, use a knife or a hand sander to taper the end of one side of the lumber. Alternately, purchase a piece of wood that is already tapered at one end.^{[3]
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- You can also use a bamboo cane as your stake for saplings.^{[4]
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2
Position the stake on a 45-degree angle with the ground. Place the pointed end of the stake so that it crosses the base of the tree at a height of about 15 to 18 inches (38 to 45 cm). You'll want your single stake to be oriented into the direction in which the wind usually blows, to help stabilize the tree.^{[5]
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Royal Horticultural Society
Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants
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- Do not disrupt the tree's root system when planting your stake.
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3
Hammer the stake 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) into the ground. Use a hammer to bang on the top end of the stake so that it drives it deep into the ground. You'll need to make sure that it's deep enough so that it adds stability to the tree and will remain in the ground, even in high winds.^{[6]
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4
Tie the stake to the tree with a wire or string. You can use wire or twine to attach the tree to the stake. Tie your loop in the center of the wooden stake or as low as you can tie it without the tree falling over. You'll want to attach the stake to the tree securely but not so tight that your tree won't be able to grow or move. ^{[7]
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- If you want to avoid the wire from damaging your tree, you can wrap the wire with tubing, canvas strapping, strips of old carpeting, or burlap to protect the tree.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Staking a Mature Tree

1
Measure the apple tree. If you are replanting an apple tree, you'll want to make sure that your stakes are no larger than 2/3 the height of the tree itself. If you are replanting a tree, you should also measure the width of the root ball so that you know how far apart each of the stakes have to be placed into the ground without hurting the tree's roots.
- The stakes should be as high as the lowest hanging branches of your tree.
- When replanting an adult apple tree, some of the roots may become damaged which will cause a loss of stability.
2
Purchase your stakes. Go to a hardware or home and gardening store and purchase metal or wooden stakes that are around 2/3 the height of your apple tree. Each stake should be at least 2 inches (5 cm) wide.^{[8]
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- Metal stakes provide greater overall stability when creating a permanent stake.
3
Insert the stakes into the ground so they run parallel to each other. Use a tape measure to mark the area where you want to plant your tree. The stakes should be placed far enough apart on each side of the tree so that when you drive them into the ground, they won't disrupt the tree's roots.^{[9]
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Trustworthy Source
Royal Horticultural Society
Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants
Go to source}
4
Drive the stakes a foot (30 cm) into the ground using a hammer. Once you know where your stakes have to be, tap the top of the stakes and drive them vertically into the ground about a foot (30 cm) deep. You should now have two stakes running vertically on each side of your tree.
5
Tie the tree to both stakes using rope or string. Using twine, wire, nylon string, or tubing, attach the stakes to the tree near the middle of the stakes, or 1/3 the way up from the ground. Do not tie the knots too tight and make sure that there's enough slack so that your tree is free to sway slightly.