Just talked to county extension agent. He says use strong post (6' t-posts ok), about 6 inches from trunk, check roots, put any area without good roots opposite wind side of s or sw. Make sure root flair is at ground level and tree does not sink. Make flexible ties and let tree move. Remove posts after 1 year.

They Say dwarf trees need permanent staking.

+1. Everything I've heard is that dwarfs need permanent staking.

Agree - permanent staking. Agent emailed and said MO ext agent said to keep them staked. So I will. Just have to find stakes that do not cost more than the trees.

I've been using a 10.5' long, 1.375" thick top-rail (intended for chain link fencing) from Home Depot(~$11). It seems quite sturdy. I've been using a digging bar to go down 2-3' (depending on the hole I usually hit a very large rock by then). I've been holding it in place by packing smaller rocks around it and driving them into the gap between the pole and the surrounding soil. I'm not sure if it will eventually have issues with frost heave. The ones I did last spring still seem fine, but it was a pretty mild winter.

If you have a lot of trees, you may want to setup a trellis system where there are large end posts and a thin/lightweight post for each tree.

Here is a link that might be useful: 10.5' chain link top rail from HD

What are y'all using to tie to the tree from the support pole?

Down here in South GA, with the sandy soil, I can pull a dwarf in the third leaf by hand.

Bob - How far away from the trunk did you place your posts? I've got some rocky soil as well, which is making permanent stake placement a real rodeo. Trees are already in, so I can't excavate too severely or too close to the trees. I'm looking at placement about 8-10" away from the trunk, and am wondering if this will still provide the support needed, particularly if heavy winds were to blow from any direction other than the prevailing one.