For gardeners, stakes are essential for nurturing fragile plants. Traditional wood and bamboo stakes are tried-and-true, but plastic, steel, and iron options have also become quite popular. Although the array of choices can be daunting, our guide is here to help you navigate the selection process. We've carefully scrutinized the best garden stakes of 2024 and we've landed on the WAENLIR Garden Stakes as our top pick, thanks to their sturdy design that ensures your plants' growth and stability. To further assist you, our buying guide is here to guide you to a set of stakes that's tailored to all of your gardening needs. Let's dive in!
Our Top Picks For Garden Stakes
The Best Garden Stakes
Best Overall
The very first unit on our list is the Waenlir garden stake that measures 4 feet in height and 16 inches in diameter. The package consists of 30 strong-built garden stakes that you can use in your garden. Though light-weight, these stakes are sturdy enough to provide adequate support to plants to encourage growth and health.
The stakes are made from plastic coated steel tubes. Not only are these stakes sturdy but also UV and chemical resistant, which means that these can withstand all weather conditions and would last you long. As compared to wood and bamboo stakes, these are a much better option because of their durability and strong-build.
Pros
- Available in a range of lengths
- UV and chemical-resistant
- Durable, rustproof steel tubes covered in plastic
- Ridged surface is ideal for climbers
Cons
- They bend easily
Natural Option
Next up, the hydrofarm bamboo garden stakes are another great choice if you are looking for stakes that look good in the garden and provide good support to plants. One of the best features of these bamboo stakes is that these come with a very natural finish that can easily blend with your plants and the overall garden. Also, these can be used for both outdoor and indoor purposes.
Other than this, these stakes are very lightweight in size which makes them easy to handle and install. Moreover, they come in a smooth attractive finish to ensure that these don’t look rough in your garden. Each stake has a diameter of approximately 8-10mm. Overall, these bamboo stakes are high-quality and come at an affordable price.
Pros
- Easy to install and maintain
- Affordable compared to other options
- Durable natural bamboo construction
Cons
- Finish is a little slippery
Most Subtle
Next up, the Yidie garden stakes are made with metal and are one of the top garden stakes for you if you are looking for sturdy and durable ones. These measure 36 inches in length and 0.43 inches in width. Their size makes them ideal to be used with all sorts of plants including climbing plants. Each package consists of 25 stakes.
Other than this, the stakes feature green plastic coating, which not only makes them water-resistant but also helps them to blend flawlessly into your garden. Also, since the coating used is of high-quality, you don’t need to worry about the color washing off when the stakes get wet. Overall, these metal stakes are a great option for plants such as pole beans, tomatoes, and for building teepees for natural climbing plants support.
Pros
- Sturdy metal construction
- Coating help prevents rust
- Blend flawlessly into your garden
- Easy to insert into soil
Cons
- A bit too lightweight
Most Reliable
Next up, the Tingyuan garden stakes are another great choice among reliable and long-lasting garden stakes. To start off, these are plastic coated steel stakes in green color that blend into your garden beautifully. Even though these are hollow from the inside, these do not compromise on the sturdiness and the durability. Since these are so reliable, these work great for securing shrubs, vines, trees and natural climbing plants.
Furthermore, these garden stakes are rust proof and weather-resistant, which makes them very ideal for outdoor use. Also, each garden stake is sharpened at the end, which helps to easily insert them into the ground. Other than this, each package consists of 25 sturdy steel stakes and each stake measures 48 inches in length and 16 inches in width.
Pros
- Available in multiple sizes
- Great for a variety of plants
- Easy to install and maintain
- Sturdy and durable
Cons
- Bends too easily for some
Most Versatile
Last, but not least, the BTSD garden stakes are constructed from hollow steel which not only makes them super reliable but also gives them enough strength to provide a good amount of support for growing plants and trees. Other than this, all the stakes come in green color which makes them easy to blend into your garden.
Moreover, the stakes are rust-proof which means that they would last long even outdoors and can withstand harsh weather. Each stake measures 60 inches in length and 16 inches in diameter, and their sizes make them an ideal option for plants such as vines, shrubs and securing trees. Overall, these garden stakes are sturdy enough to provide the support that you plants need in order to grow quickly and healthily.
Pros
- Weather-resistant and rust-proof
- Sharpened points on both sides
- Ideal for a variety of uses
Cons
- Not sturdy enough for some
Buying Guide: Garden Stakes
If you’re thinking of starting a garden or simply want to improve your existing one, garden stakes are a must-have.
Factors To Consider When Buying Garden Stakes
Gauge thickness
You will notice while looking at garden stakes that gauge thickness is often mentioned. This thickness is mentioned in the range of 1 to 40. This number indicates the stake’s thickness; the higher the gauge thickness number is, the thinner the stake is, and vice versa.
A thick garden stake is more suitable if you want the garden stake to support heavy plants or materials as a thicker one would stand more firmly and would be more sturdy. For lighter plants, you can use a thin garden stake.
Material
Garden stakes are commonly made of three types of materials;
- Natural materials: In earlier days, garden stakes were of natural materials like bamboo, walnut wood, and so on. Garden stakes made up of these natural materials used to rot after a few years. These natural material stakes are still available but they are now processed to increase and enhance their quality so that they can be used for a longer time.
- Plastic: Garden stakes are made up of plastic as well. It is durable, lasts longer, is cheaper, and is available in a variety of designs and styles. If you want to have a garden stake that stays with you for a longer time, then go for a plastic garden stake but remember, plastic garden stakes are not very sturdy and should not be used for heavy support usage.
- Metal: Garden stakes are made up of metals as well such as aluminum, iron, steel, or galvanized steel. The metal garden stakes cost more than plastic garden stakes but they are more sturdy and provide strong support.
Therefore, if you want to support heavy plants, you should go for a metal garden stake. If you want to support lighter plants, you should go for a plastic garden stake. You can also choose to purchase a natural garden stake if you think it will fulfill your requirements the best.
Shape
Shapes of stakes play a vital role in holding or supporting different types of materials. Thus, if you want to use a stake for big plants, use a garden stake with square heads. This is so because square-head garden stakes reduce wind tearing and support the material firmly.
However, if you want to use a garden stake for small plants, use a round-headed stake. It will hold up the plant and will let it grow through it. Choosing the right shape for the right usage is very important. Thus, choose a garden stake that fits your requirements and serves the purpose you’re buying it for.
Galvanized stakes
Galvanized stakes are those whose hoses are covered with a zinc layer for extra protection. This extra layer makes the stake steady, and firm, and increases its strength.
It is best to go for galvanized stakes as they do not rust or corrode easily. Moreover, they stay protected from UV rays and are weather-resistant, water-resistant, and durable.
Design
There are several designs for garden stakes. Although wooden garden stakes do not have a variety of designs, they are still attractive enough. Wooden stakes can also be worn out by water as wood gets destroyed by water.
If you want your garden to look amazing and also to stay upright, then you can go for designed garden stakes. Plastic and metal garden stakes are available in several designs in the market. Choose the design that you like the most or the one that appeals to you and at the same time fulfills your requirements.
Bundle
Buying in bundles will always be beneficial as compared to buying a single stake. Usually, garden stakes come in a pack that contains three or four stakes but there are also single stakes being sold. Thus, if you want to save up some amount, it is recommended to buy in bundles.
You would also notice that purchasing a single garden stake is expensive as compared to purchasing three or four garden stakes in a bundle.
The Different Types of Garden Stakes
Below, we have mentioned the four types of garden stakes that are available and used for different needs of support.
Single stake
Single staking is the most commonly used method of plant support. These types of garden stakes are made up of wood, bamboo, plastics, or metals.
Single stakes are hammered around 6 inches in the ground right next to the plant that needs the support and then at about two-thirds of the height of the plant, the plant is tied with a single stake using garden ties or twines. The plant is tied at a few intervals with the stake to make sure that the plant doesn’t fall off due to harsh weather conditions. Some types of plants require additional support and for them, single stakes are not enough. In such a scenario other types of garden stakes come into use.
Ring-style support
Ring supports are used to support plants like strawberries that have multiple stems. These types of garden stakes allow growth through the grid, through which the plants grow and this supports them as they become sprout fruits. However, the ring-style supporting stakes cannot be removed without damaging the plant but they are still widely used.
Cage
Another type of garden stake is cages. It can support a variety of plant species such as tomatoes. They are almost like ring-style support but they are taller and have open tops. Cages provide support from all angles. Therefore, these types of stakes are used ideally for young trees or tomato plants.
Trellis
The fourth type of best garden stake is a trellis. Trellis is specifically used to prevent plants from growing horizontally. This way plants would be encouraged to grow upwards rather than sideways. Pole beans are an example of a plant that grows against a trellis.
How Do I Put Up a Garden Stake?
If you’re looking for help getting your garden stake set up, check out this video by Bunnings Warehouse for more information.
People Also Asked
What are garden stakes used for?
Garden stakes are used to provide support to plants that are weak and can’t grow on their own.
How tall should garden stakes be?
Typically, garden stakes should be at least 1.5 to 2 inches above the ground level. That said, the ideal length also depends on the type of plant you need the stakes for.
Which plants require garden stakes for growth?
Some of the plants that require garden stake for growth include pumpkins, peas, pepper, pole beans, and blackberries.
When should I stake my plants?
It’s advisable to stake plants when they’re about halfway to their full height. Doing so lets the plant's leaves conceal the stake as they continue to grow and ensures support is in place before any problems arise.
How do I keep the garden stakes from damaging my plants?
When securing plants to stakes, opt for gentle materials such as cloth or specialized plant ties. This method ensures a snug fit without risking harm to the plant's delicate stems.
