Live Stake Tree Planting

Live staking involves cutting stems or branches (“stakes”) from native trees and shrubs, and then planting the stakes directly into the bank of a river or stream where they take root and grow. Live staking stabilizes the streambank, creates habitat, stops pollutants from reaching the watercourse, cools the water (through shading), and helps reduce the impacts of flooding.

Flooding is a natural occurrence in the Thames River watershed but, as storms become more frequent and severe due to climate change, storm runoff and flooding will become an increasing problem. This is especially true in areas that do not have much “green infrastructure” to absorb and slow down runoff. Live stake tree planting can help make watersheds more resilient to these impacts.

People plant trees along a stream, with buildings and trees in the background

A live staking event on the banks of Medway Creek at Western University, where 200 native shrubs and 100 tree cuttings were planted to resist erosion and minimize flooding. (Steven Anderson/Western Communications)

In the spring of 2023, UTRCA staff worked with a group of students participating in the Thinking Globally Acting Locally program at Western University to carry out a live stake tree planting workshop on campus at Medway Creek. Live stakes cut from sandbar willow trees and native shrubs were used to stabilize the creek bank and restore habitat.

The importance of this work is underscored by the recent 2022 Upper Thames River Watershed Report Cards which use a variety of indicators to assess the health of the watershed. The Report Cards suggest local actions for improvement that individuals and community members can take to improve the health of the watershed. The Report Card for Medway Creek recommends protecting and establishing buffers of native trees and grasses along the creek.

The planting event at Western began with a water blessing led by Wahsayzee Deleary and her daughter, who are from Oneida Nation of the Thames and Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. Improving the watershed’s health is an important part of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and repairing relationships with the lands and waters that we share.

In November 2023, UTRCA staff and partners gave a presentation on this project as part of the “Think Globally, Act Locally” series at the London Public Library. The presentation included the UTRCA Watershed Report Cards followed by the Live Staking Project (begins at 23:45 in the video).

Watch a timelapse video of the project site in 2025.

Read more about the project in “Community-engaged flood mitigation and ecological restoration on a university campus,” a paper co-authored by UTRCA staff and published in Environmental Research: Ecology (July 2024).

How to Use Live Stakes

Planting trees using live stakes can be adapted to other parts of the world that are prone to flooding. The following is a general guide for live staking in your watershed.

  1. Select a suitable planting site. In general, it is best to choose an area along a watercourse where there is exposed bank (i.e., visible soil) and periodic flooding.
  2. Determine your tree species. Choose species that are native to your area, thrive in wet conditions, and suited to the amount of sunlight at your planting site. Consider checking with local tree experts to help select appropriate species. Willows, cottonwoods, and dogwoods are usually good choices.
  3. Find a source of planting materials. Work with the local conservation authority, municipal environmental staff, or private landowners to access healthy mature trees and shrubs to harvest cuttings from. These trees may be growing in wet areas, such as banks of watercourses.
  4. The best time to harvest stakes is in late winter, before the tree’s buds start to expand. In general, it is best to plant the stakes in the ground as soon as possible after harvesting them. However, the stakes can also be kept in cold storage (0˚ to 4˚ Celsius) for an extended period until favourable planting weather. It is easiest to plant the stakes when the ground is wet and soft (e.g., in early spring). Make sure to keep the stakes moist while in storage.
  5. Using pruners or loppers, cut branches that are about 0.5 to 1.5 inches in diameter, into 2-3 foot lengths. Use an axe or hatchet to sharpen the bottom end of each stake into a point. Make sure you’re sharpening the end that was closest to the ground so you’re not trying to plant the tree upside down. If you cut a 9 foot stem into 3 stakes, sharpen the bottom end of each section.
  6. Find an area within a few feet of the water’s edge, where the stakes will contact moisture underground. Use a mallet to hammer each stake into the ground until at least half to two thirds of its length is below the surface. If the stream bank is nearly vertical, angle the stake slightly upward to help it grow.
  7. Plant the stakes at least 2-3 feet apart, in as many rows as desired. A zigzag arrangement works best. When hammering in the stake, you will splinter/mash the top of it. Once the stake is securely in place, cut off the top so that it has a clean surface.
  8. Check the stakes periodically after planting to ensure planting success. A survival rate of about 50% is typical, and failed plantings can be replaced later. Initially, the plant will invest most of its energy in developing a root system underground. It may take a year before you start to see leaves growing on the stake. You may need to provide supplemental watering during dry conditions in the first year or two after planting.