This is a beautiful Red Oak in northeastern Colo Z5a. I recently removed landscaping rocks piled on the trunk and tin weed barrier circled around the tree and staked from previous owner. Couldn't get out this one stake which is in the root pretty good. What is best way to handle this? Cut stake close as can, then dope with tree wound goop? I plan to add a little top soil and mulch but leave most of the tree flare exposed. Do I even need the tree wound goop? Maybe I should first try to find a muscle-man to get the stake out? Appreciate all opinions.

I made the mistake, many many years ago, of using metal T-stakes as tree stakes. The tree roots completely grew around them - my husband couldn't pull them out with his tractor. Cut the stake off; there's no way its coming out.

Don't cover the root flare, not even with mulch. Don't use the wound goop.

Thank you for replying. The tree is doing fantastic even with the stake so I guess it's used to it. I could do more damage by trying to remove it. I feel better now

I agree with Lucy. I have several trees with T-posts permanently embedded in them; fortunately they do not seem to impair the trees other than esthetically.

Thank you! Glad to know that.

A long as they'er not girdling any major roots, it's best to leave them in place and just cut off as much as you can without damaging the tree.

Never cover cut surfaces with anything, it doesn't help at all.

Thank you. I appreciate the response.