The arrival of summer flowers, such as gladioli, delphiniums, and peonies, brings color to the garden, but their height presents a common challenge. These plants can easily collapse under their own weight, especially after heavy rain or strong winds. Flopping is visually disappointing and can compromise the plant’s health by snapping stems or exposing them to soil-borne diseases. Providing a support system maintains the plant’s upright form, ensuring consistent air circulation, proper sun exposure, and a more robust flowering season.
Choosing the Right Support Structure
Selecting the appropriate hardware depends on the plant’s natural growth habit: single-stemmed specimens versus bushy, clump-forming perennials. For flowers that produce one main stem (foxgloves, lilies, sunflowers), individual staking is most effective, using bamboo canes, metal rods, or thin wooden stakes inserted near the base.
Bushy perennials (peonies, poppies, phlox) benefit from a collective support system. Ring supports, or grow-through cages, are horizontal grids placed over the plant early in the season. As foliage expands, the grid becomes hidden, allowing stems to grow up through the structure. Link stakes offer a modular alternative, featuring single metal rods that can be interlocked to create custom-shaped enclosures for plants grown in drifts or rows.
Soft, pliable options are preferable for tying the plant to its support, as thin, abrasive strings can cause damage. Specialized garden tape or strips of old cotton cloth are ideal because they are soft enough not to cut into the stem’s tissue. Avoid nylon or plastic twine in favor of wider, softer ties that minimize friction.
Applying Support: Timing and Tying Techniques
The success of any support structure relies on the timing of its installation, which should happen long before the plant actually needs it. Supports for perennial flowers should be placed early in the spring when the plant has reached approximately one-third of its mature height. Installing supports early allows the plant to grow up and around the structure, naturally concealing the hardware with its expanding foliage.
When setting stakes, drive them deep enough to provide a secure anchor against the leverage of a tall, wind-buffeted plant. For single-stem staking, the tie should not directly bind the stem to the stake, which restricts movement and causes chafing.
Instead, employ the “figure-eight” method: wrap the tie around the stake, cross it in the middle, and then wrap it around the stem. This pattern creates a buffer of space between the stem and the rigid support, allowing natural movement and preventing damage. The tie must also be loose enough to accommodate the natural thickening of the stem throughout the growing season. Regularly inspecting and adjusting ties is necessary to ensure the plant is supported without being constricted, which could girdle the stem and impede nutrient flow.
Preventative Care for Stem Strength
Beyond physical supports, specific cultural practices encourage plants to develop stronger, more resilient stems. The planting location should provide shelter from strong winds, as constant buffeting encourages weak, elongated growth. Providing wind protection significantly reduces the likelihood of stems snapping.
A pruning technique known as the “Chelsea Chop” can be used on many summer-flowering perennials, such as phlox or coneflowers, typically performed around late May or early June. This method involves cutting back the stems by a third to a half before the plant flowers. This stimulates the growth of side shoots, resulting in a shorter, bushier, and sturdier plant. This proactive pruning delays the bloom time slightly but produces a more compact plant.
Gardeners must also manage soil nutrition carefully to promote strong stem growth over excessive foliage. Too much nitrogen fertilizer encourages rapid, soft, and weak growth, often referred to as “leggy,” which is prone to collapse. Instead, supplying a balanced fertilizer with adequate levels of phosphorus and potassium helps to strengthen the plant’s overall structure.