An apparatus 1 for driving stakes or the like, in particular relatively long vineyard stakes, into the earth has a guide framework 3, provided with standing legs 4 and intended for the stake which is to be driven in, and a driving-in mechanism which is mounted on said framework, can be actuated by a drive and can be coupled to the stake, which is to be driven in, at least at the upper end thereof. The stake-retaining means 9 comprises a tube which exhibits a slot-like opening 10 over most of its length and is delimited at the top by a weight-loading supporting stop 11 for the upper stake end. The driving-in mechanism comprises at least two clamping jaws 13 which enclose the circumference of the stake-retaining means 9 in a releasable manner. Said clamping jaws are suspended, such that they can move to a restricted extent, on in each case one column 16 via an articulation 15 which is located on the outer side of said jaws and whose axes are directed transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stake-retaining means 9. Said column is held in the guide framework 3 such that it can be displaced approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stake-retaining means 9. The columns 16 are constantly subjected to elastic prestressing which is effective in the downwards direction and can be overcome by a lifting drive 29, 30. Said lifting drive 29, 30 can be automatically decoupled in the position, of the columns 16, raised counter to the elastic prestressing. <IMAGE>
