I have ordered several new fruit trees on rootstock that require permanent staking. And others that need temporary. Any suggestions? I bought several really strong metal T-stakes at Home Depot last night. I don’t think I can manage driving in salt-treated posts . . . but I do think that I can hammer in a T-stake. I use the lighter weight ones in my garden all the time.
Do I use 2 per tree? One - closer to the tree? I would love it if someone would share their method, please.
It can get pretty windy - and many of my trees end up leaning toward the South - SouthWest. I’d like to try to keep them standing as straight as possible this time.
One T post per tree has worked for me. Two would be even better. I drive the post in about 2ft deep and about 6 inches from the tree. Then take a long sturdy strip of something like an old towel. Wrap that around the tree say 3-4ft off the ground and above a limb. By warp I mean around the tree with equal length tails in the direction of the post. Now put several twists into the towel and tie it off around the post.
In your case put one post on the north northeast side away from the direction they lean. Or use two posts on opposite sides and tie the trunk the same way to both.
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THANKS Steven! I love the idea of the towel strip - so ‘kind’ to the tree’s bark. I had some old camo cord . . . but was not sure I should use it. I’ve used bungee cords before - the wide flat colorful ones. They were so easy to adjust and readjust. And they won’t work as the tree gets over a certain size. But, I like the towel idea better.
The T-post won’t interfere with the growth of the tree’s trunk? The ones I bought are green with beige painted tops. I thought I could write what each tree ‘is’, on these, with a permanent marker. (I’ll also tag the trees of course.)
P.S. - I’m an official card-carrying Bungee Cord Freak. I use them for lots of weird things! If I could find a way to cook with them . . . I probably would. 
Six inches clearance is enough for 10-20 yrs growth. Even then the tree will just grow around the post. My trees are on dwarf stock and that’s never been an issue. But I do tend to move every 10-15 yrs…lol
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I use sections of old garden hose for ties. The rubber material doesn’t scar the tree.
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@gsims1997 - Thanks, Greg. I have used them before, too. But the old garden hoses that I’ve had, and are ready to be cut, have been too stiff for my liking. I need to try those again - maybe run my ‘camo cord’ through them. I think I have some ‘cheaper’, more flexible hose remnants laying around. I liked fruitnut’s towel strip idea, too.
I used one of my ‘go to’ bungee cords - for a speedy solution, yesterday. It was the end of a long day and I was pooped . . . but I HAD to get at least one tree in! (I found this little Santa Rosa at a Wallmart. Has nice limbs. Will prune to train this week.)
