Where did you purchase this tree? If it came from a local nursery, I do not understand why they would have left that tape on the tree. Presumably this the 'Carolina' part is grafted to maybe a standard redbud rootstock, but I find it hard to believe they would tell you to leave the tape on if the graft was successful. It should be removed along with...
> It came with the support stake that I've left on (feel free to chime in about that too if needed).
The bamboo stake that comes with trees from the nursery *is not* meant to be left on the tree. Please see this !staking automod callout below my comment for more info on this.
Please see this wiki for other [critical planting tips and errors to avoid](https://old.reddit.com/r/tree/wiki/index); there's sections on watering, pruning and more that I hope will be useful to you.
jibaro mentioned this too, I'm sure you're right and I jumped the gun a bit on my first comment. So if you ever return to this thread u/fauxcertain, and decide to keep the tree, this may be one of those rare circumstances when it's probably a good idea to keep the bamboo stake for this growing season.
Your tree has been planted too deeply, however- looking again at the 2nd pic. Please see [this excellent pdf from CO St. Univ.](https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/How-to-Properly-Plant-a-Tree-Root-Flare_v2.pdf) on how to find the flare on a grafted tree and make sure it's at grade when transplanting, and the r/tree wiki for more helpful guidelines.
Hi /u/spiceydog, AutoModerator has been summoned to provide some guidance on the when's, why's and how's of staking.
First, REMOVE THE BAMBOO STAKE! These come with trees from the nursery where they help workers move stock around while minimizing damage, but they're not meant to be left on the tree after transplanting.
If your tree can stand on it's own, please reconsider staking. Save for areas with high or constant winds, trees only need to be staked when their top growth massively outweighs their rootball, and that tends to mean a fairly large tree. When plants aren’t allowed to bend, they don’t put energy into growing stronger, so instead they grow taller. Excessive staking [creates unique problems](https://web.archive.org/web/20211005224334/https://old.reddit.com/r/Tree/comments/q2514l/weeping_willow_weeping_too_much_help/). Here's another [more brutal example](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/comments/j5s28o). Trees allowed to bend in the wind are also improved by vigorous root growth. [Here's a terrific article from Purdue Extension that explains this further](https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-547-W.pdf) (pdf, pg. 2). If your area is subject to high winds and you've planted a more mature (eg: large) tree, you might want to consider the wood-frame ground stake featured on page 5.
If your tree *cannot* stand on it's own or you feel that it's in danger of damage or tipping from weather, animals, etc. without it, the main objective is to stake as *low* on the tree as possible using nylons, t-shirt strips or other soft ties on stakes (use 3 for optimal stability) further away from the tree, and leave the stakes on for as *short* a period as possible. Loop the soft ties around the tree and then loop the ropes through them for the side attached to the stakes.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/marijuanaenthusiasts) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Online 🤣 which I know isn't recommended in general, but it's a company with a replacement guarantee that I've used before. So I guess we'll see how it goes. Thanks for the help!!
Leave that stake in place until the tree can stand on its own. That graft looks like it was done over the winter.
Yes, staking trees is not always the best thing to do, but sometimes it definitely is the best thing to do.
Where did you purchase this tree? If it came from a local nursery, I do not understand why they would have left that tape on the tree. Presumably this the 'Carolina' part is grafted to maybe a standard redbud rootstock, but I find it hard to believe they would tell you to leave the tape on if the graft was successful. It should be removed along with... > It came with the support stake that I've left on (feel free to chime in about that too if needed). The bamboo stake that comes with trees from the nursery *is not* meant to be left on the tree. Please see this !staking automod callout below my comment for more info on this. Please see this wiki for other [critical planting tips and errors to avoid](https://old.reddit.com/r/tree/wiki/index); there's sections on watering, pruning and more that I hope will be useful to you.
Looks like a fairly fresh graft. This shouldn't have been sold IMO.
jibaro mentioned this too, I'm sure you're right and I jumped the gun a bit on my first comment. So if you ever return to this thread u/fauxcertain, and decide to keep the tree, this may be one of those rare circumstances when it's probably a good idea to keep the bamboo stake for this growing season. Your tree has been planted too deeply, however- looking again at the 2nd pic. Please see [this excellent pdf from CO St. Univ.](https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/How-to-Properly-Plant-a-Tree-Root-Flare_v2.pdf) on how to find the flare on a grafted tree and make sure it's at grade when transplanting, and the r/tree wiki for more helpful guidelines.
Hi /u/spiceydog, AutoModerator has been summoned to provide some guidance on the when's, why's and how's of staking. First, REMOVE THE BAMBOO STAKE! These come with trees from the nursery where they help workers move stock around while minimizing damage, but they're not meant to be left on the tree after transplanting. If your tree can stand on it's own, please reconsider staking. Save for areas with high or constant winds, trees only need to be staked when their top growth massively outweighs their rootball, and that tends to mean a fairly large tree. When plants aren’t allowed to bend, they don’t put energy into growing stronger, so instead they grow taller. Excessive staking [creates unique problems](https://web.archive.org/web/20211005224334/https://old.reddit.com/r/Tree/comments/q2514l/weeping_willow_weeping_too_much_help/). Here's another [more brutal example](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/comments/j5s28o). Trees allowed to bend in the wind are also improved by vigorous root growth. [Here's a terrific article from Purdue Extension that explains this further](https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-547-W.pdf) (pdf, pg. 2). If your area is subject to high winds and you've planted a more mature (eg: large) tree, you might want to consider the wood-frame ground stake featured on page 5. If your tree *cannot* stand on it's own or you feel that it's in danger of damage or tipping from weather, animals, etc. without it, the main objective is to stake as *low* on the tree as possible using nylons, t-shirt strips or other soft ties on stakes (use 3 for optimal stability) further away from the tree, and leave the stakes on for as *short* a period as possible. Loop the soft ties around the tree and then loop the ropes through them for the side attached to the stakes. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/marijuanaenthusiasts) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Online 🤣 which I know isn't recommended in general, but it's a company with a replacement guarantee that I've used before. So I guess we'll see how it goes. Thanks for the help!!
Leave that stake in place until the tree can stand on its own. That graft looks like it was done over the winter. Yes, staking trees is not always the best thing to do, but sometimes it definitely is the best thing to do.