Live stakes
Garden Clippings for Feb 26, 2022
Back in grade 7 science class we learned all about methods of propagation: seeds, cuttings and division. We even touched on budding and grafting. We didn’t get into tissue culture which in the horticulture field, is a relatively recent practice. Nor did we discuss live stakes, a spin on the ancient science of stem cuttings.
Live stakes are sections of limbs without leaves that are cut and then stuck into soft, moist soil. Stakes are usually ½ to 1 inch in diameter and about 3 to 5 feet long. Live stakes are cheap, easy to plant and give quick rewards. Sounds simple enough.
For success in live stake production, the job must be done in winter or early spring while the plant is dormant. If attempting to grow live stakes in summer, it would be necessary to remove the leaves and provide constant moisture for a month or more.
Growing live stakes is a good option for reforestation and restoration of native habitat sites such along stream banks, in wetlands, and roadway slopes. Home gardeners might want to try growing live stakes for the fun of it but will want to think twice about planting a dozen Willows in the backyard.
Don’t try growing Oaks, Maples, Birch, Ash, Locust, Linden, Sycamore or any popular shade trees using the live stake method. That leaves Willows, Poplars and a few varieties of Dogwood, all questionable choices for city lots.
Live stakes are picked in late fall or early winter. Once picked, they need to be refrigerated and kept moist until planting time. Prior to planting it will be helpful to make a new diagonal cut at the bottom of the stem. If the soil is soft, the stake can be hammered in, but for hard soil use a drill. About half the length of the stake should be in the earth.
Two interesting questions arise when growing live stakes. Can a long stake be cut into a few shorter pieces to gain more stakes? Yes, indeed, provided each length of stem has buds or leaf nodes that will go into the ground.
What will happen if I plant the stake upside down? The short answer is probably nothing. In Biology class we were taught about xylem and phloem, and pipes that send water and nutrients up from the roots and into the tree’s branches. These pipes can’t be reversed. But if you are lucky, the buds planted in soil might sprout roots that will eventually produce shoots. But the portion of the original planted stem that was above the soil will certainly die off.
Next week’s Garden Clippings will discuss starting garden seeds indoors.
