Plant Supports

Earlier than you think. Most flopping is caused by supports installed too late — by the time the plant looks like it needs help, it's already deformed. Put canes and frames in when plants are around 15-20cm tall, so they grow up through the support naturally. The supports vanish into the planting rather than dominating it.

Tall annuals and perennials with heavy heads or weak stems: cosmos, dahlias, peonies, delphiniums, sweet peas, runner beans, tomatoes, gladioli. Generally, anything growing over 60cm tall benefits from at least light support. Floppy growers like Nicotiana sylvestris or Verbena bonariensis can usually support themselves through other plants.

Definitely not — well-chosen supports can be beautiful in their own right. Hazel or willow obelisks add architectural structure and look better as they weather. Iron and bamboo plant supports become part of the design. Soft jute or twine ties are almost invisible. Avoid bright green plastic-coated wire if you can; it never blends in.

Use soft, flexible ties — jute twine, soft fabric strips, or specialist plant clips. Tie in a figure-of-eight: loop loosely around the support, cross over, then loop around the stem. This holds the plant without compressing the stem as it grows. Avoid wire and string-only ties, which can cut into thickening stems.