How to stake your plants

How to stake your plants

Liz
View the video

How to stake your plants

View the video
×

Project Overview

Staking plants helps your trees, flowers and vegetables by giving them support and protection. It also helps train them to grow in the right direction. Find out where and how deep to put the stake, plus how to choose the right ties for your plants. 
Continue to step-by-step instructions

Step by Step Instructions

1 Choose the right sort of ties
2 Choose a position for your stake
3 Hammer in the stake
4 Tie the plant to the stake
5 Attach more ties to the tree

  • Step 1. Choose the right sort of ties

    Before you start staking your plants, it’s important to choose the right kind of ties. Soft ties are ideal for gentler plants. Chain ties are suitable for small trees on a stake, like roses because they grow fast and can be easily adjusted as the branches grow and expand. Fabric ties are ideal for most plants. We’re using fabric ties for our lemon tree because they give it the right amount of support but also the flexibility to move and grow.

    Previous Step Next Step
    Woman choosing the right ties

  • Step 2. Choose a position for your stake

    To decide where the stake will go, have a look at the plant to see which way it is leaning. This is especially important in windy areas. If the plant is leaning to the left or the wind is blowing to the left, put the stake on the right side of the plant to help it grow straight. It’s best to put your stake in when you’re planting the tree, while the soil is soft, so that you don’t damage the roots.

    Previous Step Next Step
    Choose the position of the stake

  • Step 3. Hammer in the stake

    Use the hammer to drive the stake into the ground so that it’s 30 to 40 centimetres deep. Give it a good hit so that it’s nice and firm. If the stake has splinters, wear gloves when hammering it in. 

    Previous Step Next Step
    Person hammering in stake

  • Step 4. Tie the plant to the stake

    Cut the fabric tie with scissors. It’s better to be too long than too short. Secure the first tie near the bottom of the tree, where the tree starts to fork out into branches. This will help to straighten up the branches on the tree. Wrap the fabric tie around the tree and the stake twice, and tie it off using a bow. This way you can easily untie and attach it somewhere else on the tree.
    Previous Step Next Step
    Person tying plant to the stake

  • Step 5. Attach more ties to the tree

    If your tree is tall, it may need more than one tie to secure it to the stake and to keep it growing straight. Repeat the above step to secure the ties. Check on your plants regularly, and add additional ties when they grow. Add the ties about 15-20 centimetres apart. Make sure you secure the tie to the stake and not the plant.

    Previous Step Next Step
    Check on your plants regurlarly

Tools and Materials

Tools

  • Hammer
  • Scissors

Materials

  • Stakes
  • Ties

More D.I.Y. Advice

How to build a garden bed 05:37

Planting & Growing How to build a garden bed Transform your outdoor area by learning how to build a garden bed. It’s easy to do, just follow our step-by-step guide.

philodendron

Planting & Growing Discover 12 plants that are the best for indoors Striking foliage and stunning colour isn’t just reserved for the garden. There’s a wide variety of indoor plants you can use to bring colour and life to your home explains Bunnings Greenlife buyer Katrina Gatt.

Person planting spinach 03:11

Planting & Growing How to grow vegetables Watch our step-by-step guide and find out everything you need to know about how to grow fresh vegetables in your garden.

Person trimming the hedge with battery shears 01:28

Planting & Growing How to trim hedges Hedges are an excellent way to add shape to your garden. Here are a couple of tips to effectively trim and maintain a hedge.

Person putting on protective edging on the raised garden bed 01:38

Planting & Growing How to build a raised garden bed Building a raised garden bed is a simple project you can do yourself. Learn how to build a raised garden bed with this guide from Bunnings Warehouse.

Person adding compost and manure to the soil 02:01

Planting & Growing How to improve sandy soil Good soil is the foundation for any healthy garden. We can show you how to improve sandy soil to retain more nutrients and water.

succulents

Planting & Growing How to plant and care for succulents Succulents come in a huge range of colours, shapes and sizes, will grow just about anywhere and don’t need much looking after, making them a plant that’s perfect for even the most novice gardener. If you’re new to succulents, here are some tips from...

Person cutting the corrugated edging 03:08

Planting & Growing How to install garden edging Garden edging can help to make your garden beds look neat and tidy. We’ll show you how to install plastic or corrugated garden edging around your garden.

hydrangea

Planting & Growing How to create an allergy-friendly garden If you suffer from hay fever or other allergies, then being out in the garden can, at times, be less than enjoyable. But there are some steps you can take to create an allergy-friendly garden so you can spend more time gardening and less time sneezi...

pallet coffee table

Outdoor Living Five D.I.Y. ideas to update your outdoors Autumn is a great time of the year to tick off a few D.I.Y. projects from your to-do list. Here are a few good ideas to get you started.

pot

Planters How to choose the right plant pot Pots are a great way to add colour, interest or texture to your outdoor space. Tuscan Path’s Elaine Foster shares her top tips on how to choose the perfect pot.

sunflower

Planting & Growing How to plant and care for sunflowers Sunflowers are a great way to add colour to your garden, and they’re easy to grow and care for. Bunnings Greenlife buyer Katie explains the basics of how to grow sunflowers and shares some tips on how to care for them.

orchid

Planting & Growing How to care for orchids Orchids are a low-maintenance flower that can be grown indoors or outside in a protected location. And, with a little care, they will provide you with lots of colour.

paint

Guides & Projects How to upcycle almost anything with paint Rather than throwing out old household items, you can restore them with paint. It’s a quick, easy and affordable way to give anything from furniture to fences a new lease on life. Learn how to paint and prepare different surfaces to get the finish y...

DIY balcony and courtyard garden

Planters D.I.Y. balcony and courtyard garden Even if your outdoor space is limited to a balcony or courtyard, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on having a garden. The team at Tuscan Path, who have been supplying pots to the Australian marketplace for over 40 years, share some ideas on how ...

kitchen benchtop materials

Benchtops & Cabinets A guide to kitchen benchtop materials The perfect benchtop will add style to any kitchen. It’ll also see the most action, so choosing the right benchtop for your kitchen – and budget – is an important decision explains Bunnings Kitchen Designer Ben Carey.

Top of the content