Buy Live Stakes Online From a Tennessee Nursery

• How wet is the site? Willows and buttonbush handle the wettest ground, right at the water's edge. Dogwoods and elderberry suit the upper bank, where soil is moist but not flooded.
• What's your growing zone? Use the zone filter above. Our live stakes cover zones 3 through 9.
• Do you want a mix? Planting several species gives you a sturdier, more natural bank and better wildlife value than a single species.

Willows are the most reliable live stakes for erosion control. They root quickly and grow fast in saturated soil.

Black Willow Live Stakes

Black Willow is our best-selling live stake. This native tree grows quickly along streams and rivers, and its deep, spreading roots anchor large banks. Use it where you have room for a full-size tree.

Silky Willow and Pussy Willow Live Stakes

Silky Willow is a multi-stemmed native shrub willow that stays smaller, making it ideal for narrow streambanks and drainage ditches. Our Willow Live Stakes add early spring catkins that feed the first bees of the year.

Silky Dogwood Live Stakes

Silky Dogwood is a native shrub that roots readily from stakes and thrives on moist streambanks. Its reddish-purple stems hold soil well, and its blue fall berries feed songbirds.

Roughleaf Dogwood Live Stakes

Roughleaf Dogwood forms dense thickets that spread by suckering roots, making it excellent for stabilizing upper banks and slopes. White summer flowers feed pollinators, and white berries feed dozens of bird species.

Buttonbush Live Stakes

Buttonbush grows in standing water and saturated soil where few other shrubs survive. Its round, white summer flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, and ducks eat its seeds.

Elderberry Live Stakes

Elderberry roots easily, grows fast and produces flat clusters of white flowers followed by dark berries that birds love. Plant it on the moist upper bank rather than in standing water.

• Plant while dormant. Install live stakes from late fall to early spring, after leaves drop and before buds open.
• Keep them moist. Plant as soon as possible after delivery. If you must wait, keep stakes cool and moist, or soak the bases in water for a day or two.
• Point the buds up. Insert the angled end into the soil, with the buds facing upward.
• Plant deep. Set two-thirds to three-quarters of each stake below ground, with at least two buds above the soil.
• Make a pilot hole in hard soil. Use a piece of rebar or a dibble rather than hammering, which can split the stake.
• Firm the soil. Close the hole tightly so the stake has good contact with the soil and no air pockets.
• Space them closely. Plant stakes 2 to 3 feet apart in a staggered pattern for dense coverage.

Live stakes ship dormant, during the dormant planting season from late fall to early spring, bundled and packed to stay moist in transit. See our planting instructions, or browse tree seedlings and ground cover plants for the rest of your restoration project.

What are live stakes?

Live stakes are dormant cuttings from native shrubs and trees that root easily from their stems. Planted directly into moist soil, they grow roots and shoots and become new plants. They're widely used for erosion control and streambank restoration.

What are the best plants for erosion control on slopes?

On wet or moist slopes and streambanks, willows, silky dogwood, roughleaf dogwood, buttonbush and elderberry are among the best, because their dense roots bind soil quickly. On dry slopes, deep-rooted ground covers and native grasses work better than live stakes.

When is the best time to plant live stakes?

During the dormant season, from late fall to early spring, after leaves drop and before buds break. Stakes planted while dormant put their energy into roots first.

What is the success rate of live stakes?

With good planting on a moist site, survival is commonly 70% to 90%, and willows and dogwoods are usually the most reliable. Dry soil, planting after buds open, and stakes planted upside down are the most common causes of failure.

How deep do you plant live stakes?

Bury two-thirds to three-quarters of each stake, leaving at least two buds above ground. Deeper planting reaches moist soil and keeps stakes from drying out.

How far apart should live stakes be planted?

Plant them 2 to 3 feet apart in a staggered pattern. Closer spacing gives faster coverage on banks with heavy erosion.

Do you ship live stakes outside Tennessee?

Yes. We grow in Tennessee and ship nationwide.