I've never seen what you are talking about. But seems to me you could make them out of Rebar or round steel rod. Have you tried searching for a Gaff?

I run a small nursery operation, each year I overwinter just a few thousand woody plants and perennials. I don't have the facilities that large wholesalers typically resort to - cold hoop houses, for example - but my winter losses are very, very low, and that is typical for nursery growers in the midwest. Whether B&B, or container, or bare rooted, or in the growing field, plants are dormant in the winter. That's a pretty self-evident fact. B&B trees are typically dug from the fields late in winter, or very early spring. They are also dug in late fall, and overwintered by growers. If they come from a local grower, they are gonna be just as dormant, and on the same "awakening" schedule, as the stock that sat around all winter in my nursery storage yard. If those spring dug trees come from growers in more clement parts of the country, then they may be already breaking dormancy. That can sometimes be a bit of a problem if spring is a typically unsettled time, and late cold fronts can set that new top growth back - sometimes, disastrously. But, in general, whether the tree was dug in the fall, and overwintered, or dug in the spring, establishment of root systems is gonna be identical. Now, I will say that a fall dug tree may actually have a more extensive root system because of the natural root growth that occurs in the fall, and which certainly can occur while the ball was sitting in the mulch bed in October and November. So, a fall dug tree may have a little edge on a freshly dug spring tree. But, there are lots and lots of variables that come into play and affect root growth. As far as new root growth and establishment in the spring goes, it's all the same. brian

In addition to the SUnset Western Gardening Book, also pick up Golden Gate Gardening, which is specifically designed for coastal climates like yours. You'll be surprised when you find yourself socked in with fog most of the summer shivering, and then suddenly in January it's 80F when you get a warm spell. Very little heat, and no frost makes for an unusal combo. Certain succulents do really well in Monterey, as do the native Cypress of course. Most ornamental non-flowering broad leaf evergreen plants will do very well. But even bougainvillea blooms well. Have fun!

It sounds like the damage started before you got the plants. There could have been periods in which the rootball dried out( which easily could have happened with B&B) Evergreens sometimes do not show drought damage or in this case neglect from lack of care until a few months after it happens. I would suggest that you continue to care as you have - water regular but allow to dry between watering. Too much water can also have a negative impact on evergreens. If you are not sure put you finger in the soil to test - Eventually you can prune out the dead and hopfully the new growth that is appearing now will fill in. It is best not to give any fertilizer this year. LOL Mike