Classics
The following article has been selected because it is deemed very popular or very important to the arboricultural profession and deserves special recognition. It has appeared in a previous Seminar and because of this it is not eligible for earning certification credits; there is no test at the end of this article.
Tree Stabilization
By Len Phillips
Best Way to Stabilize Trees
The recommendation for staking trees has changed in recent years as the result of studies on the effect of wind sway on trees and what happens to staked trees. Trees tied to tall stakes at a point just below the crowns are still a common sight, however this practice, that was once thought to discourage vandalism and support the tree, is not the best solution.
Recent research described nine types of new, commercially available tree staking systems. The conclusion was that above ground guying, while very common, can cause additional stress and the potential failure of the tree. Instead, a strong consideration must be given to installing below grade stabilization systems that anchor the root ball firmly to the soil, and are the better option for the tree's recovery from the transplanting process. Below-grade stabilization meets the safety, aesthetics, and “what’s best for the tree” concerns.
Stapling Systems
Stapling is a below-grade system that secures new plantings by the root-ball to the bottom of the planting pit. The 2 × 2’s, dowels, Terra Toggle™, and Tree Staple™, are included in this concept. If the aesthetics alone are not enough of an enticement, think in terms of safety for children or pets where the danger of exposed stakes and wires is eliminated. The faster installation, no maintenance or removal, better appearance, and reduced liability are also benefits of these systems.
Stapling secures new plantings by the root-ball that provides notable cost savings through quick and easy installation, no need for removal, and it results in a healthier, better looking tree.
UPI Manufacturing Tree Stabilizer Kits
UPI Manufacturing produces Tree Stabilizer Kits that come packaged with all the components necessary to stabilize a newly planted tree, below grade. These kits stabilize the root ball, while allowing movement to the canopy. These kits fit any caliper tree and come with instructions and three 1½ in x 20 in (4x50 cm) perforated tubes. The kit also includes 3 – two-year – time release fertilizer tablets, a 6 feet (2 meters) long harness strap, as well as cam buckles and hooks that are used to connect the harness to the tubes.
The perforated tubes are installed by inserting a steel stake inside each tube and driving the stake and tube 20 inches (50 cm) into the ground, just beyond the root ball. Then the steel stake is removed, leaving the tube in the ground, the process is repeated until all three tubes are in the ground, equal distance around the root ball. When the tubes are in the ground, the tree is planted and the harness straps are installed between the tubes and over the root system.
The tubes provide a way for water, the fertilizer tablets, and oxygen to penetrate the top 20” of soil around the tree’s roots for the life of the kit. Once established (or after 8 to 12 months), the harness straps may be removed for use elsewhere, while the tubes remain in the ground and continue to provide a simple way to provide water, oxygen, and the dissolved fertilizer to the roots for years to come. This product installation requires two people at least ten minutes to install. Video
Root Anchor™ Tree Staking
The Root Anchor™ underground tree stakes are manufactured by Tree Stake Solutions. The Root Anchor™ is a tree root stabilizing system that involves centering a “cage” (or open metal ring) over the surface of the root ball, after the tree is planted.
The three, flat-topped stakes are driven outside the root ball and through the cage, deep into undisturbed earth below the root ball. The flat-topped stakes hold the cage tight to the root ball top and the solid bottom of the planting hole. The stable root ball allows young roots to develop in a suitable environment, while holding the transplanted tree upright during high winds. This product can be installed in the time it takes to lay the cage over the root ball and drive the tree stakes into the ground.
The system is intended to remain for as long as it takes for the metal cage to decompose, although it may be removed when the tree is established or a year after planting. Removing the cage will prevent long term problems, such as if the tree dies and a stump grinder might become damaged by the buried metal. Video
Duckbill® Anchors
Duckbill anchors are manufactured by Foresight Products and can be used with all types of guy systems, but the company has developed a “Root Ball Kit” that is specifically designed to hold the tree’s root ball firmly in planting hole.
The kit is based on driving three duckbill anchors below the root ball hole. The anchors are attached by cables that terminate in eyelets, and are driven into the ground via a steel rod and hammer. Once anchored, the rod is removed and the cable pulled to set the duckbill firmly in the soil. The tree is then planted in the hole. Next, a strap is run through the first eyelet, over the root ball to the next eyelet and after that, to the third eyelet and back toward the first. The strap is pulled snug between the first and third eyelet. Finally, the ratchet supplied in the kit is used to tighten the strap and firmly secure the root ball to the soil.
The manufacturer says it is an effective, lightweight and economical anchoring application for large or small trees. This product takes two people several minutes to drive the 3 long stakes and duckbills into the ground and install the strap through the three eyelets around the tree. There is no recommendation regarding removal of this system after the tree is established. See Photo
Tomahawk Tree Stabilization
The Tomahawk Tree Stabilization system is manufactured by Border Concepts Inc. This system is similar to the Tree Staple, except the horizontal bar extends beyond the prongs and the prongs are hollow to permit watering and fertilizing through the metal tube. The horizontal bars are notched for extra guying in extremely windy sites. Observing a video of the installation, it appears that driving the prongs into the root ball, requires 2 minutes with a sledge hammer. Removing the Tomahawk system after the tree roots have begun to grow, or 6 months, is optional. See Photo
2 x 2 Staple
This system is called 2 x 2 Staple because it was made from 2 x 2 lumber with one long piece crossing over the root ball and screwed or nailed to two shorter pieces driven into solid ground on either side of the root ball. They look like wood staple and a pair of these staples is driven into either side of the tree trunk. There is no need to remove this home-made system after the tree is established. See Photo
Dowels
The dowel system consists of three long wooden dowels or re-bar driven through the root ball. The wood dowels will decompose in a couple of years, but the re-bars, should probably be removed if there is a chance the tree might die and the stump might be removed by grinding.
Terra Toggle™
The Terra Toggle™ consists of polypropylene strapping holding a piece of lumber and the root ball firmly to the ground with anchors. This system is similar to the 2 x 2 and is installed after the tree is set in the planting pit but before any backfill is added to the hole. This system does not need to be removed after the tree becomes established. Video
Tree Staple™
The Tree Staple™ consists of a long metal prong that provides vertical support and serves as an anchor to the firm soil below the root ball. The shorter prong restricts twisting of the root ball movement and firmly locks the root ball in-place. The cross member stretches across a portion of the root ball, applying downward pressure. One person using a sledge hammer can install this system in about a minute. See Photo
Conclusion
All of these options secure new plantings by the root-ball that provides notable cost savings through quick and easy installation and the optional need for removal. The only disadvantage is that if the tree dies and the stump needs to be removed, any metal from the stabilizing system should be removed prior to the stump grinding.
Sources:
The following article has been selected because it is deemed very popular or very important to the arboricultural profession and deserves special recognition. It has appeared in a previous Seminar and because of this it is not eligible for earning certification credits; there is no test at the end of this article.
Tree Stabilization
By Len Phillips
Best Way to Stabilize Trees
The recommendation for staking trees has changed in recent years as the result of studies on the effect of wind sway on trees and what happens to staked trees. Trees tied to tall stakes at a point just below the crowns are still a common sight, however this practice, that was once thought to discourage vandalism and support the tree, is not the best solution.
Recent research described nine types of new, commercially available tree staking systems. The conclusion was that above ground guying, while very common, can cause additional stress and the potential failure of the tree. Instead, a strong consideration must be given to installing below grade stabilization systems that anchor the root ball firmly to the soil, and are the better option for the tree's recovery from the transplanting process. Below-grade stabilization meets the safety, aesthetics, and “what’s best for the tree” concerns.
Stapling Systems
Stapling is a below-grade system that secures new plantings by the root-ball to the bottom of the planting pit. The 2 × 2’s, dowels, Terra Toggle™, and Tree Staple™, are included in this concept. If the aesthetics alone are not enough of an enticement, think in terms of safety for children or pets where the danger of exposed stakes and wires is eliminated. The faster installation, no maintenance or removal, better appearance, and reduced liability are also benefits of these systems.
Stapling secures new plantings by the root-ball that provides notable cost savings through quick and easy installation, no need for removal, and it results in a healthier, better looking tree.
UPI Manufacturing Tree Stabilizer Kits
UPI Manufacturing produces Tree Stabilizer Kits that come packaged with all the components necessary to stabilize a newly planted tree, below grade. These kits stabilize the root ball, while allowing movement to the canopy. These kits fit any caliper tree and come with instructions and three 1½ in x 20 in (4x50 cm) perforated tubes. The kit also includes 3 – two-year – time release fertilizer tablets, a 6 feet (2 meters) long harness strap, as well as cam buckles and hooks that are used to connect the harness to the tubes.
The perforated tubes are installed by inserting a steel stake inside each tube and driving the stake and tube 20 inches (50 cm) into the ground, just beyond the root ball. Then the steel stake is removed, leaving the tube in the ground, the process is repeated until all three tubes are in the ground, equal distance around the root ball. When the tubes are in the ground, the tree is planted and the harness straps are installed between the tubes and over the root system.
The tubes provide a way for water, the fertilizer tablets, and oxygen to penetrate the top 20” of soil around the tree’s roots for the life of the kit. Once established (or after 8 to 12 months), the harness straps may be removed for use elsewhere, while the tubes remain in the ground and continue to provide a simple way to provide water, oxygen, and the dissolved fertilizer to the roots for years to come. This product installation requires two people at least ten minutes to install. Video
Root Anchor™ Tree Staking
The Root Anchor™ underground tree stakes are manufactured by Tree Stake Solutions. The Root Anchor™ is a tree root stabilizing system that involves centering a “cage” (or open metal ring) over the surface of the root ball, after the tree is planted.
The three, flat-topped stakes are driven outside the root ball and through the cage, deep into undisturbed earth below the root ball. The flat-topped stakes hold the cage tight to the root ball top and the solid bottom of the planting hole. The stable root ball allows young roots to develop in a suitable environment, while holding the transplanted tree upright during high winds. This product can be installed in the time it takes to lay the cage over the root ball and drive the tree stakes into the ground.
The system is intended to remain for as long as it takes for the metal cage to decompose, although it may be removed when the tree is established or a year after planting. Removing the cage will prevent long term problems, such as if the tree dies and a stump grinder might become damaged by the buried metal. Video
Duckbill® Anchors
Duckbill anchors are manufactured by Foresight Products and can be used with all types of guy systems, but the company has developed a “Root Ball Kit” that is specifically designed to hold the tree’s root ball firmly in planting hole.
The kit is based on driving three duckbill anchors below the root ball hole. The anchors are attached by cables that terminate in eyelets, and are driven into the ground via a steel rod and hammer. Once anchored, the rod is removed and the cable pulled to set the duckbill firmly in the soil. The tree is then planted in the hole. Next, a strap is run through the first eyelet, over the root ball to the next eyelet and after that, to the third eyelet and back toward the first. The strap is pulled snug between the first and third eyelet. Finally, the ratchet supplied in the kit is used to tighten the strap and firmly secure the root ball to the soil.
The manufacturer says it is an effective, lightweight and economical anchoring application for large or small trees. This product takes two people several minutes to drive the 3 long stakes and duckbills into the ground and install the strap through the three eyelets around the tree. There is no recommendation regarding removal of this system after the tree is established. See Photo
Tomahawk Tree Stabilization
The Tomahawk Tree Stabilization system is manufactured by Border Concepts Inc. This system is similar to the Tree Staple, except the horizontal bar extends beyond the prongs and the prongs are hollow to permit watering and fertilizing through the metal tube. The horizontal bars are notched for extra guying in extremely windy sites. Observing a video of the installation, it appears that driving the prongs into the root ball, requires 2 minutes with a sledge hammer. Removing the Tomahawk system after the tree roots have begun to grow, or 6 months, is optional. See Photo
2 x 2 Staple
This system is called 2 x 2 Staple because it was made from 2 x 2 lumber with one long piece crossing over the root ball and screwed or nailed to two shorter pieces driven into solid ground on either side of the root ball. They look like wood staple and a pair of these staples is driven into either side of the tree trunk. There is no need to remove this home-made system after the tree is established. See Photo
Dowels
The dowel system consists of three long wooden dowels or re-bar driven through the root ball. The wood dowels will decompose in a couple of years, but the re-bars, should probably be removed if there is a chance the tree might die and the stump might be removed by grinding.
Terra Toggle™
The Terra Toggle™ consists of polypropylene strapping holding a piece of lumber and the root ball firmly to the ground with anchors. This system is similar to the 2 x 2 and is installed after the tree is set in the planting pit but before any backfill is added to the hole. This system does not need to be removed after the tree becomes established. Video
Tree Staple™
The Tree Staple™ consists of a long metal prong that provides vertical support and serves as an anchor to the firm soil below the root ball. The shorter prong restricts twisting of the root ball movement and firmly locks the root ball in-place. The cross member stretches across a portion of the root ball, applying downward pressure. One person using a sledge hammer can install this system in about a minute. See Photo
Conclusion
All of these options secure new plantings by the root-ball that provides notable cost savings through quick and easy installation and the optional need for removal. The only disadvantage is that if the tree dies and the stump needs to be removed, any metal from the stabilizing system should be removed prior to the stump grinding.
Sources:
- Eckstein, Ryan and Edward F. Gilman, “Evaluation of Landscape Tree Stabilization Systems”,
- Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 34(4): July 2008.Focus Section, “Tree Staking Options”,
- Landscape Architect and Specifier News, April 2015.
- UPI Manufacturing website
- Root Anchor™ website
- Duckbill® website
- Tomahawk Tree Stabilization website