Quick verdict
A tree staking system that holds a newly planted tree upright with a cushioned collar on the trunk and a rigid link to a stake, so the root ball is held still while the trunk is free to flex in wind, which is what makes a young tree grow a strong trunk and roots. Wire through hose and tight ties girdle trees every year; a collar that holds without cutting does not. It fits trees up to a few inches in trunk diameter and comes off after the first season or two when the roots have taken.
Strengths
- Holds the root ball still while the trunk flexes
- Cushioned collar does not cut or girdle the bark
- Fits a range of young trunk sizes
- Quick to fit and to remove when the tree has rooted
- Reusable on the next planting
Weaknesses
- Listing gives little detail; check the fit range
- Needs a sound stake driven beside the ball
- Must be removed after a season or two or it does harm
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Hold the Roots, Free the Trunk
A tree planted in autumn and left to rock all winter tears every new root it makes. Staking stops the rocking, and the wrong staking strangles the tree two years later when the tie is forgotten. Tree-Mate-O’s support is a cushioned collar on the trunk linked to a stake, holding the root ball still while the trunk is free to sway and thicken.
This review is based on the listing, which is brief, and on how collar-and-stake tree supports are used in planting generally. We have not used this support ourselves.
Fitting
Drive a stout stake into firm ground beside the root ball on the side the wind comes from, not through the ball. Fit the collar round the trunk about a third of the way up, loose enough to slide a finger under. Link the collar to the stake with the connector, leaving a little play so the trunk can move an inch or two. Done in a few minutes with the tree still in its planting hole.
Why Low and Loose
A tree tied rigidly at the top never learns to stand; its trunk stays thin and it snaps in the first storm after the stake comes off. Supported low with play, the trunk flexes, lays down wood where the stress is and grows a taper. The stake holds only the roots still.
Taking It Off
After one growing season for a small tree, two for a large one, push the trunk. If the ball holds firm, remove the support and keep it for the next planting. Left on, any support eventually does what wire does. Put a reminder in the calendar; that is the most important step.
What It Replaces
Wire through garden hose, nylon rope, cable ties, all of which are found cutting into trunks in every neighbourhood. A cushioned collar that is designed to come off is the difference.
Honest Limits
The listing says little about the fit range; it suits young trees of modest trunk diameter, which is the tree that needs staking. The stake is not included and matters as much as the collar.
Who Should Buy It
- Anyone planting a tree in an exposed spot.
- Gardeners who have lost a tree to a tie.
- People planting several trees who want a reusable system.
Common Owner Complaints
Thin listing detail. Fit it low and loose and it does the job.
Alternatives to Consider
Tree Saver straps on two stakes for a large tree. A single stake and a rubber tie for a whip. No stake at all in a sheltered garden, which is often right.
Verdict
For a tree that needs holding through its first winter, a cushioned collar on a good stake holds the roots and frees the trunk. Fit it low, leave play and take it off next autumn.
Full specifications
Tree-Mate-O Tree Support System for Staking Newly Planted Trees FAQs
A newly planted tree in wind rocks its root ball and tears the new roots. A stake holds the ball still for the first season so the roots take. The trunk should still move; that is how it thickens.
Drive a stake beside the root ball on the windward side, fit the collar low on the trunk, about a third of the way up, and link it to the stake with a little play. Check the collar is not tight on the bark.
After one growing season for small trees, two for larger. Push the trunk; if the ball does not move, the stake is done.
They are forgotten. Wire, rope and even rubber ties left on for years cut into the growing trunk and kill the tree above the tie.
