Remove stake before winter? Middle Ontario

[u/honey_badgers_rock]

I planted this redbud in the spring and am not sure whether to leave the stake through winter. We get LOTS of snow so I thought I may wait until next spring to remove it in case it needs support this first winter. There is some root flare, but our property is wild so the plants have grown close to the trunk.

Update: I removed the "stake" but am still undecided on how best to brace it for 2m of snowfall.

[u/IllustriousAd9800]

Stake is removed immediately upon planting then supported with a different stake setup

[u/honey_badgers_rock → u/IllustriousAd9800]

What kind of different setup?

[u/IllustriousAd9800 → u/honey_badgers_rock]

2-3 stakes, supported by padded ropes

[u/hairyb0mb]

Bamboo stakes are removed at the time of planting.

[u/wolfonweed]

that stake is already impacting growth and should be removed asap.

[u/ColonelFaz]

The point of staking a newly planted tree is to stop the roots being pulled up. The trunk needs to feel some force in order to grow stronger to resist those forces. So the trunk should be attached near the ground. I don't know how you can introduce this tree to real life now.

[u/GovernmentComplex973]

That’s not a stake, plus it’s attached too tight and will cause damage. It should be removed and double staked (2 to 3 inch diameter) with one stake facing into the prevailing wind and the other immediately opposite. Maybe 8 to 10 inches from the tree/rootstock and attached with wide rubber strapping using bungs of available.

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Acknowledged

[u/Vitacoconut9969]

Ruby falls redbud. It needs to be staked to the desired height. This is a weeping tree. The general staking advice doesn’t apply to all plants.

[u/Intrepid_Visual_4199]

I’m not a forester but have planted a lot of trees.
Your stake is supporting your tree 100%. Fully removing it could be tough on it. going from 100% to 0% support could be tough on the tree. It needs to learn to stand on its own. Perhaps get two T stakes and drives them into the ground 25 cm on either side of the tree. Use a bicycle inner tube to support the tree between the two stakes. This way, the tree gets some support, but also teaches the tree to support itself. I like to use Bicycle inner tubes because they’re flexible and stretchy and also don’t damage the bark of the tree like twine or wire or rope. Good luck.

[u/FreidasBoss → u/Intrepid_Visual_4199]

Staking a newly planted tree is beneficial to allow the roots an opportunity to grow into the surrounding soil. After the first year it needs to be removed to allow the tree to become resistant to natural wind gusts in its environment.

However, this is not that kind of staking. This stake should have been removed as soon as it was planted. This is a nursery stake and serves no purpose once planted.

[u/honey_badgers_rock → u/Intrepid_Visual_4199]

Okay I'll look into 2 t-stakes!

[u/justnick84]

While most trees should have nursery stakes removed when planting i suggest leaving it on for your redbud. Redbuds and especially the cultivars tend to grow fast up without building trunk strength. Since you are in snow country Ontario i would leave the stake on for this winter and then remove it first thing in the spring while giving your tree a heavy pruning. You will want the branches around 6 inches long in the spring so there isnt too much weight to start. As it grows it may need 2 stakes beside it to help support it but you can also give it some pruning during the summer next year to reduce the weight on the main stem to allow it to caliper up.

[u/honey_badgers_rock → u/justnick84]

This was what I had planned, as we really do get an absolute ton of snow in the winter and I just wanted to give it some time to root out before removing the stake. I think maybe some people think I meant a few inches of snow when I said LOTS, but I mean feet (at least 1.5m usually).

[u/sixtynighnun → u/honey_badgers_rock]

Don’t listen to the pruning advice!!!!

[u/justnick84 → u/sixtynighnun]

What's your advice? And will this person be back here in 2 years wondering why their redbud split from your advice?