Vineyard stakes

Vineyard stakes play a critical role in the early development and long-term health of grapevines. Designed to support young vines through their first years, these stakes ensure vertical growth, proper alignment and protection from external stressors. Sika’s grapevine stakes are made from galvanised or corten steel, built to endure harsh weather while maintaining structural integrity season after season.

Which diameter: Ø7 or Ø8 mm?

The Ø7 mm stake is the standard choice, suited to most plantings and traditional row spacings: rigid enough while staying light and quick to drive. The Ø8 mm stake is specified for vigorous varieties, for loose soils where more grip is needed, and for windy or hillside sites where lateral loads are higher.

When in doubt, choose the larger diameter. The price difference is small, while an undersized stake that bends in the second year forces a replacement with the risk of damaging an established root system.

When to remove the stake

The stake is removed when the trunk becomes self-supporting — usually between the second and third year, though the state of the plant matters more than the calendar. The practical signal is lignification: when the trunk has hardened up to the height of the fruiting wire and holds position with the tie loosened, the stake has done its job.

Removing it too early exposes the vine to permanent trunk deformation. Leaving it beyond the necessary period can cause girdling if the ties are not loosened as the trunk thickens. Steel stakes allow the flexibility to extend support by a season without the risk of the stake itself failing — unlike wood or biodegradable alternatives.

Why steel rather than wood or plastic

Wooden stakes rot at the buried section, particularly in damp or clay soils. Plastic becomes brittle with thermal cycling and breaks without warning, and is not biodegradable at end of life. Steel stakes do not deform, do not rot and do not become brittle. At the end of the tutoring period they are pulled out easily and reused on other plantings, or recycled in full.

Technical data

Materials: galvanised steel and corten steel.
Dimensions: Ø7 mm and Ø8 mm, length 1500 or 1600 mm.

See the full range of vineyard supplies.