Like friends, sometimes our gardens need a little support

BY SUE FRANCK

Contributing Writer

‘A true friend is like a sturdy stake that keeps you upright when the storms of life try to pull you down.’ — Unknown

Gardeners know that support can make all the difference. Just as people sometimes need a helping hand, even the healthiest, most spectacular plants occasionally need assistance standing tall.

A garden in full bloom is beautiful, but abundance can come with challenges. Towering flower stalks, oversized blossoms, heavy fruit loads, and sudden summer windstorms can leave plants bent, broken, or sprawled across the soil. Providing physical support isn’t correcting a weakness; it’s creating the conditions for plants to thrive.

When a dinner-plate dahlia droops under the weight of its magnificent blooms or a tomato plant bows beneath a season’s harvest, the problem isn’t failure – it’s success without structure.

Staking, caging, corralling, netting, or trellising provide the support that plants need to remain upright, stay dry, resist wind damage, and receive maximum sunlight and airflow.

Staking: Simple Support with Big Results

Staking is ideal for tall, slender perennials which produce large, heavy flowers but few side shoots. Plants such as delphiniums, dahlias, and other top-heavy bloomers benefit from individual support that prevents stems from snapping during rainstorms or gusty weather.

A well-placed stake doesn’t need to detract from the beauty of the garden. Choose sturdy stakes at least one inch thick and long enough to anchor 8–10 inches into the soil while remaining 4–8 inches shorter than the plant’s expected mature height.

Timing matters. Install stakes soon after planting and position them close to the stem needing support while avoiding root damage.

When stems become tall enough to secure, use soft ties made from cotton strips, garden tape, flagging tape, or soft twist ties. Begin by tying to the stake, then create a loose figure-eight loop around the stem before tying back to the stake. This technique cushions the plant, prevents rubbing and stem injury, and allows natural movement. Green ties blend into foliage, making the support system nearly disappear.

Caging: Hidden Strength for Heavy Growers

Cages are most commonly associated with tomatoes and peppers, but they are equally useful for ornamental plants prone to bending and flopping, including peonies.

Install cages before plants reach one-third of their mature height, and keep the top ring no higher than halfway up the plant’s expected height. As plants grow, stems naturally branch and fill in around the structure, disguising the cage while creating a fuller, healthier display.

Corralling: Caging on a Grand Scale

When you have an entire row of plants that need support, staking each one individually can quickly become a time-consuming chore. That’s where corralling comes in – a simple, efficient support technique that saves time, energy, and materials while keeping large plantings upright and looking their best.

Much like gathering cattle into a secure enclosure, plant corralling creates a supportive boundary around a group of flowers instead of propping up each plant one at a time. This method works especially well for long rows or double rows of plants vulnerable to heavy winds, pounding rain, or the weight of large blooms.

To build a plant corral, drive tall, sturdy stakes such as T-posts into the ground at both ends of the planting row, placing one stake on each side of the row for a total of four posts. Once the posts are in place, run a long length of twine, rope, or garden line around the perimeter, creating a contained support system that gently holds all the plants together.

As plants grow and fill out, the “corral” helps them stand tall, prevents stems from flopping outward, and keeps the entire planting looking neat and healthy with minimal effort.

Horizontal Netting: Invisible Reinforcement

Some plants don’t need a single stake – they need broad support.

Horizontal netting works especially well for tall, airy flowers with delicate stems or prolific branching habits, such as snapdragons, celosia, and Bells of Ireland. Plastic support netting with approximately 6-inch openings is stretched between sturdy corner stakes and installed about 12 inches above the soil before plants reach that height.

As stems grow upward through the openings, the netting becomes nearly invisible while providing critical reinforcement during heavy rain and strong winds. Exceptionally tall plants may benefit from a second layer of netting higher up for continued support.

Trellises: Where Function Meets Garden Art

Some plants were born to climb.

Vining vegetables such as cucumbers and beans, along with ornamentals like clematis and sweet peas, flourish when given a trellis to explore. Unlike stakes and cages, trellises are not something to hide – they become part of the garden’s design.

A good trellis starts with sturdy supports anchored deeply into the ground and crosspieces spaced no more than 4 inches apart to give tendrils plenty to grasp. From there, creativity takes over. Trellises may stretch along a fence, soften the side of a building, rise from a decorative container, or arch over a pathway to create a welcoming garden entrance.

Shoring up our plants isn’t about restricting growth; it’s about giving them the foundation needed to reach their full potential. Sometimes the strongest gardens, like the strongest friendships, are built with a little extra support.

JUNE TIP BOX

~ Provide support early, before plants need it. Install stakes, cages, corralling, netting, or trellises shortly after planting or before plants reach one-third of their mature height. Early support prevents damage and allows plants to grow naturally around the structure.

~ Support plants gently and discreetly. Use soft ties and techniques like the figure-eight tie to protect stems from rubbing and breakage. Select supports that are sturdy yet visually subtle, so plants remain the star of the garden.

~ Interested in learning more? Online searches offer many options, but research-based gardening information is most reliable when found on .edu and .org websites, including WSU Master Gardeners. You can also get personalized local advice by emailing WSU Grant-Adams Master Gardeners at ga.mgvolunteers@wsu.edu.

ALL ABOUT SUE

An Ephrata-area resident since 1959, Sue Franck is a retired dental hygienist and certified WSU Master Gardener for Grant-Adams counties. Happiest when getting her hands dirty, Sue operates her seedling business, Blissful Blooms, and has been a vendor at the Moses Lake Farmers Market since 2022, selling vegetable and flower starts.