If you are staking your new tree, make sure to hammer the stake in first. If you wait and put the stake in after planting your tree, the stake could hit and damage the roots.
Name: Paul Utah (Zone 5b) Grandchildren are my greatest joy.
It is also important that if you are tying the tree to the stake that you do so loosely, allowing the tree to move with the wind. This allows the trunk to become stronger and not reliant on the stake. Then at some point you can remove the stake.
Name: Christine North East Texas (Zone 7b) Shine Your Light!
We just planted some fruit trees too. The one in the pic was from last spring planting (it was the only thing green when I wrote this tip).
Here's one of the newly planted apple trees with the loose tie, like you stated Paul. It's an apple tree, called "Winesap original."
We have two reasons for staking our trees, the dogs and the wind.
May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day --Native American Proverb
Name: Christine North East Texas (Zone 7b) Shine Your Light!
Oh, and meant to say that the pic above shows the result of not staking first... we had to put the stake further away from the tree to avoid the roots.
May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day --Native American Proverb