Stake Your Flowers to Keep Them from Falling Over

My Garden Life
June 7, 2021
Table of Contents
Some flowering plants sprawl on the ground and they look their best when left to grow naturally. But there is nothing attractive about a peony or lily lying flat on its face after a strong wind or hard rain. You can prevent flopping flowers by staking them as soon as the flower stalks emerge.

Use Bamboo, Plastic or Metal Plant Stakes

Oriental lilies staked to keep them upright

Don’t worry about ugly stakes detracting from the appearance of the garden. If you stake and tie your plants properly, you will hardly notice the supports. Natural bamboo canes and dark green plastic or metal stakes do the job well without standing out.

How to Stake a Plant

closeup showing a stem tied to a bamboo stake

  • Choose stakes that are about six inches shorter than the mature height of the plant.
  • Place them as close to the plant as you can without damaging the root crown.
  • Sink the stake into the soil to keep them from toppling along with your flowers.
  • Tie the plant loosely to the stake. The stems need a few inches of room so they can move with the wind. Plants tied too tightly are likely to break off. You will have to add more ties as the plant grows.

Grow Through Plant Supports are an Alternative to Stakes

delphinium plants held upright by a grow-through plant support

If you don’t like adding ties, try a grow-through support. The simplest form is a metal ring with legs, but you’ll find many variations at your local garden center. The metal tomato cages sold at discount stores are perfect for flowering plants. Bushy plants grow best with this type of support. As the plant grows and sprouts new leaves, it will hide the structure.

What to Do When Flowers Fall Over

beautiful bunch of cut pink peonies

Supporting your plants with stakes or grow-through supports keeps them looking neat. Despite your best efforts, you’ll still have an occasional flop or broken stem. Damaged plants are susceptible to disease, so trim them back to remove all damaged stems. Bring the fallen flowers indoors and place them in vases so you can enjoy them.
 
If you love to design with plants that add height to your landscape, then you should consider growing vines. Trellises are available in a wide array of heights, designs and materials so you are sure to find one that complements your garden scheme. Once covered with leaves and flowers, trellised vines can create a dramatic focal point for large or small spaces! Here are eight flowering and fragrant vines to get your creative ideas flowing.

clematis vine growing on a lattice fence

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

How to Grow Peppers in Pots

How to Grow Peppers in Pots

Sweet or spicy—green, red, yellow, purple—peppers of all sorts are easy to grow in a container garden.
10 Hanging Basket Ideas

10 Hanging Basket Ideas

No matter if you're looking for a new twist or are new to hanging baskets, here are ten tailor-made suggestions to try.
Make Natural Ink from Plants

Make Natural Ink from Plants

This is a perfect DIY project for gardeners and artists, including kids! Collect your favorite colors from your garden and backyard (or your spice cabinet and refrigerator) and get ready to make natural ink. We’ll show you how!

Related Posts

No Till Gardening

No Till Gardening

Understanding Plant Hardiness Zones in the USA

Understanding Plant Hardiness Zones in the USA

Freshen Up Your Houseplants

Freshen Up Your Houseplants

frost map with dates

Frost Map with Dates

USDA zone finder with zip code search and maps

USDA Zone Finder

plant library

Plant Library

Save plants to your personal library

Join My Garden Club to access more features

Already a member?
Log in now

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share this post with your friends!