Plant stake in Exeter
Professional plant stake services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
30-45 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Plants and young trees staked properly with the right supports and ties. No more wind damage, no leaning, everything growing straight.
Staking Actually Matters
You've just planted a £50 young tree, or your gorgeous delphiniums are tall and flopping over, or last week's storm has left half the garden leaning like Pisa.
Proper staking fixes all of this. But it's one of those jobs where doing it wrong is worse than not doing it at all - too tight and you strangle the plant, wrong depth and it pulls out in wind, no spacer and the trunk rubs raw.
Or just get it done properly in half an hour and forget about it.
💡 Pro tip: The stake should move slightly in wind - you want the plant building trunk strength, not becoming dependent on rigid support. That's why professional tree ties have some give in them.
Done Right vs Done Wrong
| ✅ Proper Staking | ❌ Wrong Staking |
|---|---|
| Stake driven deep (60cm+ for trees) | Wobbles in wind - pointless |
| Tree tie with spacer to prevent rubbing | String tied tight - damages bark |
| Positioned on windward side | Wrong side - tree blows into stake |
| Room for trunk growth | Tied too tight - strangles the tree |
What Needs Staking?
🌳 Common Garden Staking Jobs
| Plant Type | What's Needed | Typical Time |
|---|---|---|
| Young tree (whip/small standard) | Single stake + tree tie | 30-45 mins |
| Tall perennials (delphiniums, etc.) | Canes or supports per plant | 30-45 mins for several |
| Wind-damaged plant rescue | Straightening + proper support | 30-45 mins |
| Container plants (dahlias, etc.) | Bamboo canes + soft ties | 30-45 mins for multiple pots |
Pricing Guide
| Job Size | You'll Pay |
|---|---|
| Single tree or few tall plants | £60 |
| Multiple plants/small border | £60 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour). If you've got loads to do, it'll run over an hour and we charge £50/hr after.
Perfect For Your Garden If...
✅ Just planted young trees - stake them before wind damage happens
✅ Tall perennials flopping - delphiniums, hollyhocks, verbascum
✅ Storm damage - plants blown over or leaning badly
✅ Container plants - top-heavy dahlias or lilies in pots
Why Choose Us for Plant stake in Exeter?
Stakes fitted at the right depth and angle
Ties positioned to support without strangling
Wind-damaged plants straightened and secured
Advice on when to remove stakes later
What to Expect
Step 1: Assess What's Needed
I'll look at what needs staking and what type of support suits each plant - trees get proper stakes and tree ties, perennials get canes or hoops, pot plants get lighter supports.
Step 2: Install Stakes Properly
For trees, that means driving stakes 60cm+ into the ground on the windward side. For perennials, placing supports without stabbing through the roots. Everything positioned before tying.
Step 3: Secure with Proper Ties
Tree ties with spacers for anything woody, soft ties for perennials, figure-of-eight knots to prevent rubbing. Tight enough to support, loose enough for growth and movement.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to stake plants yourself? Here's how to do it properly:
🔧 Materials you'll need
For young trees:
- Treated stake (5cm x 5cm, length depends on tree height)
- Tree ties with spacers (not string!)
- Rubber mallet or sledge hammer
- Secateurs for trimming stake if needed
For perennials:
- Bamboo canes or metal supports
- Soft garden twine or velcro ties
- Scissors
🌳 Staking a young tree properly
- Position: Place stake on the side the wind usually comes from (in Devon, that's usually southwest)
- Drive it deep: Minimum 60cm into the ground, more for exposed sites
- Height: Stake should come up to just below the first branches
- Attach tree tie: One tie about 30cm from the ground, spacer block between tree and stake
- Tighten carefully: Firm enough to support, but the tree should still move slightly in wind
- Check quarterly: Loosen if it's getting tight as the tree grows
🌺 Supporting tall perennials
- Early is easier: Stake when plants are half-grown, before they flop
- Individual canes: One per stem for very tall plants (delphiniums)
- Ring supports: Metal hoops for clumps that grow up through them
- Tie loosely: Plants need some movement, tie in a figure-of-eight
⚠️ Common mistakes
- String tied directly around tree trunks (cuts in and damages bark)
- Stakes too short or not driven deep enough
- Ties too tight (strangles growth)
- Tying to the stake on the wrong side (tree blows into it)
- Forgetting to check ties - they need loosening as plants grow
💡 Pro trick: For very exposed sites, use two stakes (one each side) with a crossbar, and tie the tree to that. Gives more stability in serious wind without the tree rubbing against a single stake.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🌬️ Devon wind: We get some proper wind here, especially in winter. Young trees on exposed sites need staking for at least two years. Sheltered gardens can sometimes get away with one year.
Remove stakes once established. Leave them too long and you get rubbing damage or the tree never develops trunk strength. After 1-2 years, give the trunk a gentle push - if the root ball doesn't rock, remove the stake.
Multiple plants to stake? If you've planted a new border or got several young trees, it's worth doing them all in one visit while I'm set up with materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do plants need staking?
Young trees and tall plants need support while their roots establish. Wind rocks them, loosening the roots and preventing proper anchoring. A proper stake holds them steady for the first year or two until they can support themselves. Also helps straighten plants that have started leaning.
Can't I just hammer in a bamboo cane?
You can for small perennials, but young trees need something much stronger - a proper treated stake driven deep enough that it won't move in wind. The tie needs to be the right type too - tree ties with spacers prevent the trunk rubbing, which bamboo and string don't do.
How long should the stake stay in?
Usually 1-2 years for young trees. Once the roots have established properly (give the trunk a gentle push - if the root ball doesn't rock, it's ready), you can remove the stake. Leave it too long and you'll get rubbing damage or the tree becomes dependent on support.
My tree's already leaning badly - can you fix it?
If it's just been planted this season, yes - I can straighten it and stake it properly. If it's been in the ground for years and has grown that way, forcing it straight can snap roots. Better to leave it leaning or replant it. I'll assess and advise.
What about plants in pots?
Different approach - pot-grown plants need lighter stakes because you can't drive a big post into a pot. I use bamboo canes or metal supports designed for containers, with appropriate ties. Works for dahlias, tall lilies, anything top-heavy in pots.
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