How do I stop my trees blowing away!

[happyhermit]

Hello everyone

This is my first post and I'll start by saying thanks for the great information posted here. Its been invaluable.

I am planting a small orchard of 6 cookers on my croft in NE Aberdeenshire. We are a couple of miles from the coast, 100m elevation. We are very exposed and have constant winds mixed with gales!

I have taken the plunge and ordered the maidens on MM111 and M25 rootstocks. I intend to prune them as 5ft standards as we have roe deer here and the orchard will be grazed by sheep. The trees will be surrounded by 4ft heavy weldmesh enclosures and will have voleguards.

What I need help with is the tree staking. I have purchased 5.5ft x 50mm round stakes. I was going to use two vertical stakes, driven in 2ft with two buckles at 3ft. I thought this would still allow them to flex and strengthen and that i could remove the stakes after about 5 years. However, it has been suggested to me that given my exposure the trees will need permanent staking using hefty fence posts.

Can anyone shed any light please as my trees will be delivered soon and i'll need to order different posts. If you think there is a better way to stake the trees please feel free to say so.

Regards

Neil

[Madasafish]

I know the countryside well, used to live in Macduff: you sound as if further East ..(Rosehearty?)

In my view vertical posts are insufficient to hold trees against very strong winds - unless they are very deep. Far better is to use stakes at 45 degrees to the vertical attached to verticals (for bracing the verticals ) and run wires to and around tree (via plastic buckles etc) and then across to a similar stake. Aligned in the direction of the prevailing wind.

Given the likelihood of 90mph winds in winter, you will need them in my view. and you may need further bracing at right angles if the wind veers - iirc it's a northerly wind on a north facing coast but you can get (Russian) storms from the east.

In deepest Staffordshire, we rarely get winds > 60mph and are reasonably sheltered but our pear and plum trees are still staked as the wind can gust when there are leaves in early spring. The trees are dwarfing, about 3 meters high and 5-20 years old.

[happyhermit]

I know the countryside well, used to live in Macduff: you sound as if further East ..(Rosehearty?)

In my view vertical posts are insufficient to hold trees against very strong winds - unless they are very deep. Far better is to use stakes at 45 degrees to the vertical attached to verticals (for bracing the verticals ) and run wires to and around tree (via plastic buckles etc) and then across to a similar stake. Aligned in the direction of the prevailing wind.

Hi Madasafish, thanks for the reply. Yes, a bit further inland from Rosehearty. Small world!

Wow, I'm starting to doubt the viability of this orchard! So vertical posts with angled braces. Didn't quite understand the wire bit could you explain a bit more? Do you think these trees will ever be freestanding? The sycamores, rowan and whitebeam saplings nearby seem to be fine unstaked.

Neil

[Glutton4...]

Personally, I would never use vertical stakes - ever. They will move with the tree and cause root-rock, which will kill the tree.

I think your best bet would be to put two diagonal stakes in, per tree - one each side, if that makes sense. Tie them at about three feet off the ground. This will anchor the root-ball, but allow the top of the trunk some movement, which will strengthen it.

Good luck!

[orangepippin]

Also bear in mind that strong wind pressure and a short growing season is likely to reduce the mature height of the trees compared with figures published in the books - possibly quite considerably. It will also cause the trees to grow with wind-shaped canopies, which is not very attractive. In these situations there is something to be said for dwarf trees, which can be more easily kept behind a shelter-belt, although they would need protection from the grazing animals too.

[happyhermit]

Thank you for the replies.

I think it is important that the trees develop a strong root system and substantial trunks if they are ever to stand here unassisted. Certainly young trees nearby that only ever had rabbit tubes, seem to manage fine. Everything I read online suggests double stakes, with or without crossmembers, with flexible ties for a couple of years only to achieve this. I am clearly going to have to put these stakes in hard, but I have a crowbar, sledge hammer, and the subsoil is sand and gravel so I should get some purchase.

I have read differing information on the stakes being inline with the wind or at right angles. I guess one way increases the stability, the other increases flexing. Any thoughts on this narrow point?

Neil

[Glutton4...]

I would put them in line with the prevailing wind. Putting them across increases the 'sail' effect.

[Nicos]

Not much help but I seem to recall that the actual movement of the tree...and therefore roots...encourages the roots to grow into a better anchor.
I wonder if staking them might actually cause a weaker root system overall?
..and nope- don't take my advice- I really don't know much about fruit trees!

[happyhermit]

Not much help but I seem to recall that the actual movement of the tree...and therefore roots...encourages the roots to grow into a better anchor.
I wonder if staking them might actually cause a weaker root system overall?
..and nope- don't take my advice- I really don't know much about fruit trees!

With respect to all the replies, I think you are spot on Nicos. Much of the info online is from US University horticultural depts and they specifically say do not stake unless absolutely necessary. They say that any staking will reduce the strength of the roots and trunk. If staking is necessary then only for one year to allow root establishment and staking low down. In windy situations they suggest two stakes perpendicular to the wind with webbing or rubber strapping to the trees to allow them to move and prevent bark damage.

Neil

[Veggielot]

The council planted some new trees just down the road from me and they used two vertical stakes as support. We are not anywhere near as exposed as you sound.

[Nicos]

With respect to all the replies, I think you are spot on Nicos.

Neil

..what me???