Ideas for a substantial stake of some kind

I would be grateful for some ideas if some sort of really strong ( probably metal) stake/s that I can use to try and save a substantial Liquidamber.
The tree is about 15 years old and about 15 to 20 ft tall. Where I planted it there must be some sort of bedrock under the tree as it has not formed a substantial rooting system.
I have another one planted somewhere else and that is solid as a rock.
The tree in question is now growing at an “ interesting” angle, made worse by recent gales and not helped by the fact that Liquidamber are slow to lose their leaves.
It is a miracle it is still alive to be honest as it whirls round in strong winds.
I have already staked it with metal stakes ( 3) but once hammered into the ground they are only about 3 ft tall. I need stakes that are maybe about 8 ft tall to allow a good 2 to 3 ft in the ground and then still a good height to rope the tree higher up its trunk.
I think I probably am going to lose it but would like to at least try to save it.

 

Perhaps try the H system @hailbopp - that's used on hills and very exposed sites, as any saplings would otherwise fail quickly. Just 2 standard posts -2.4 metre ones, with a horizontal placed about four or feet high on them. With the size of your tree, you might want it a little higher, depending on the level of the lowest branches. The usual rubber tree ties will work if you can get it close enough to the trunk. If not, you'd need to fashion something a bit longer.
The main problem would be avoiding the roots, as those would normally be put in on planting. If you know roughly where the root system ends, you could position them nearer the edges. It would also depend on how well you can get them into the surrounding ground.

 

Thanks @fairygirl but we are talking substantial weight here. Not a hope with standard posts. It took 2 strong guys all their time to get it upright the last time we tried staking it. As for the roots!your guess is as good as mine but you don’t need to be a genius to work out the way it is leaning where there isn’t much if any! The trunk is over 1ft in radius so normal tree ties are way too small. Have used thick nylon rope threaded through hosepipe which has worked. Everything is that much bigger/heavier /more difficult than planting young trees of which I have planted literally 100s over the years.

 

You can get round wooden fencing stakes in a variety of lengths and diameters, they have a sharpened end.

 

Thank you @Goldenlily26. I have some of these already which were used to repair a fence after a massive 200 year + Beech fell in gales in 2022.


The ones I have are not long enough but you have got me thinking that there might be longer ones available where I buy fencing materials. I will give them a bell and see what are the longest ones they have. Maybe 3 in a triangle might work…..worth a go

 

Sorry - yes I meant big fence posts, as opposed to the sort of thing you'd use on a sapling. You can certainly get those in decent lengths from builders merchants, or the supplier you've used already. You can also get round poles in long lengths, in a decent diameter. The kind that are used for show jumping. Farmers' suppliers might have those - I think that's where we got them when I worked with horses 'in my yoof'.

That's a very hefty trunk though - I didn't realise it was that sort of size! A triangle might be the way to go if it means you can anchor it better.

 

After previously using wooden stakes which either rot or come loose in the ground, I use these...https://www.leroymerlin.fr/produits...ee-vert-h-225-cm-x-section-3-mm-73700571.html Would there be something similar available there? The longest available is 2.25m. The big advantage is that they don't do a lot of damage to existing roots but they're extremely strong and can be covered in some sort of tubing to prevent chafing on trunks.

 

Some lengths of angle iron would work, you could hacksaw a point on them (these days use the seemingly ubiquitous angle grinder). Drive them in as far as need wrap in hessian (to protect your rope) and then tie back to these. Put them in angled away from the tree so the forces are trying pull the support upright rather than out of the ground or just over.

 

I agree metal fence posts, the type used to support chainlink or mesh security fencing might be the way to go. Good idea from @NigelJ to angle them outwards too.

 

I think you might be going against nature, if it's on the move all the time is it ever going to root well.
Personally, the only thing that might work is a serious prune, to take the weight off the top,so the wind has not so much leverage.
Then three guy ropes on short stakes positioned around the tree to stop any movement, they might need to be there a few years so use metal angle at the three points.

 

I was thinking the same as @pete. It sounds as if the ground is not deep enough for the tree to anchor itself properly and whatever you do will possibly just prolong the situation without much improvement. If it can be pruned in a natural way, I’d try that. I’ve seen guy ropes used to support mature trees but they create a look like an outdoor A&E department for trees which is not visually pleasing .

 

Thank you all for your suggestions. Funnily enough what is currently not working (did for a while but they are not tall enough) are old metal fence posts but they were cut in half when some “ tennis netting”effectively was being removed.
In hindsight if I can source exactly what you are suggesting @noisette47 I think that is the best idea. Now to find a source as don’t think it the best idea to get them from France! I have an angle grinder so would not be a big issue to make a point, thanks @NigelJ for the suggestion. The good thing about metal posts are that they are much thinner than wooden stakes and therefore less likely to go through what little roots the tree has.
Already @Plantminded the tree would be a good candidate for a tree A&E, never thought if it that way , now etched on my brain, thanks not!.
I will get the ladder out and get some pruning done, I do think that would help as you rightly suggest @pete. Just I dislike trees being pruned, preferring them to have a natural look, but needs must. What is so annoying is there are lots of other shrubs and a couple of fairly substantial conifers ( not planted by me!) in the same area and they are all totally solid. It must be where I have planted the tree is right above bedrock. There are a few areas on our road where bedrock is visible so it’s a good guess as to what is the issue. I am presuming now is the time to prune her, never pruned either Liquidamber before so better go and find out. Again many thanks.

 

If you think its on bedrock then you might never get it to root well, probably not even get a decent stake in there.

 

I have shallow soil in places, most of the rock breaks up if you hit it hard enough with a pick and if you have an edge you can lever it up in sheets, there is also soil and roots between the sheets. In other places there are seams of metamorphic limestone smooth, gloss and absolutely solid and short of a pneumatic drill you are not touching it. Hit with a pick and you vibrate like a cartoon character, but in neither case are you getting a stake in. The difference is with the layered rock trees and shrubs will establish slowly, but grow away in the end. With the other rock unless the plant can manage with shallow soil and regular drought periods then it ain't growing.