Read about why it’s important to remove the support stake for young citrus, according to the experts at UF/IFAS.
“In citrus nurseries and during early planting, it’s common to see metallic rebars, wire stakes, or bamboo stakes, etc., placed alongside young tree trunks. This practice gives the tree the mechanical support it needs to grow straight and strong in its formative stage,” shared a UF/IFAS blog. It added that the support stake for young citrus is not always remover; this can lead to problems for young citrus trees as they grow. Find out why UF/IFAS experts advise Florida citrus growers to remember remove the support stake, below.
Damage from a Support Stake for Young Citrus
The article shared the negative impacts of forgetting to remove the support stake for young citrus. The article advised that “The problem arises when a temporary support becomes a permanent fixture. As a healthy citrus tree grows, its trunk widens. If the stake is not removed, the growing trunk will press against the unyielding metal rod.” Negative impacts include:
- “Mechanical Damage: Constant friction and pressure from the rebar can chafe the bark, creating wounds and indentations…
- Opening for Disease: These wounds provide entry points for pathogens, including fungi, bacteria, and insects, to enter and infect the tree. When mixing those wounds with irrigation (or rain) water and soil, it becomes a sweet cake for pathogens like Phytophthora.
- Girdling: In a worst-case scenario, the tree may attempt to grow around the stake. This process can girdle the trunk, choking off the flow of water and nutrients through the tree’s vascular system and potentially killing it.”
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