Organic Gardening

Plants need supporting for a variety of reasons. New trees and shrubs, for example, must have their roots firmly anchored to stop them moving in the soil and breaking young roots. Trained fruit trees must be tied in at regular intervals, and so you need a framework to fix them to. Some naturally climbing plants need an artificial support or can be allowed to grow through trees and shrubs, while climbing vegetables must be provided with a framework. Tall herbaceous plants may also need support to stop them flopping over in the borders.

TREE STAKES

Newly planted young trees must be supported with a stake no more than one-third the length of the stem. If the tree is bare-rooted, a single stake driven into the planting hole before planting is enough. Make sure that the stake is thicker than the tree and that you drive it into the soil to a depth of at least 45cm (18in). Container-grown trees are best supported with a stake either side of the root ball, with a crossbar nailed to them.

As the stakes will not be permanent, there is no need to treat them with preservative and they should be left in the ground until they rot. In both cases, fix the tree to the stake with a plastic tree-tie, nailed to the stake to prevent slipping.

TRAINED TREES

Trained fruit trees and bushes - cordons, fans and espaliers - will need support throughout their lives. Because the support is permanent, use pressure-treated timber or metal stakes. Use 2.5m (8ft) stakes, 7.5cm (3in) in diameter, or 5cm (2in) angle irons, and drive them at least 45cm (18in) into the ground, about 3m (10ft) apart. The end stakes need angled struts secured to the lower half. Galvanized wires are then fixed horizontally between the posts at various intervals; the distance depends on the method of training.

Start by straining the top wire and work downwards, since there is more leverage at the top of the stake. If you work the other way round, you will slacken the wires already in place. If you have a lot to do, it is worth hiring a special wire-strainer. Fix the wires to the stakes with staples or simply twist them round. Trees should not be tied directly to the wires because the wires will rub against the bark. Instead, tie canes to the wires and the plants to the canes. It is also possible to train fruit trees along wires against a wall or fence.