Q&A for How to Stake up a Bush or Tree

Place posts in the ground about 2 or 3 feet from the trunk of the tree. Use tree straps with wire to secure the trunk of the tree to the posts placed on both sides of the tree. Don't attach the tree straps too tight, this can girdle the tree and kill it. The tree should be able to move in the wind but not blow over in extreme wind, so leave a little slack in the wire.

The first year and another year or more if you're growing the tree in an extremely windy climate.

Staking is placing a trellis, stake, pole, cage, or another structure that holds a plant upright or off the ground. Staking controls the growth habit of an unruly plant.

This is okay if you do it carefully. You do not want the wire too tight against the shrub, which will damage the wood and potentially kill your bush. Try selectively pruning your bush to the desired direction of growth first. Then, gently stake your bush if you do not get the desired result from pruning.

Use the double or triple stake method described above. Dig stakes into the ground equidistant to the trunk. Attach the proper wire ⅓ of the way up the tree so the wire is sturdy but not too restrictive. Leave the stakes in for one growing season, then check strength of the tree in the ground and leave the stakes in for a second growing season if necessary.

I'm guessing you trim back the old growth in the spring. You should indeed do this. Once the new leaves emerge to about 6" of new growth, you can trim any old growth away. Depending on your growing season, your sage should be ready for another trim in about 4-6 weeks. You can now take off up to about 1/3 of your plant's height. (i.e.: if your plant is 3 feet tall, you can trim off 1 foot.) You can continue in this pattern for the rest of the season. This will also help promote more blooms, if it has been struggling with that.

It depends if they are a single-stock bush or a multi-stock bush. If single, be sure to have them well packed so they can't lean. As they grow, be sure to support the stems until they are mature and hardy. If they are a multi-stem bush, be sure to clear out old growth and keep only 1-3 year stems. Older than that and they cause the bush to spread and become overgrown.