Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Support Your Plants

It sounds like a new movement doesn't it?  But, I really mean it literally, don't hesitate to support your treasured plantings by any means possible.  Several years ago at my other homes I said if a plant can't stand on its own it doesn't belong in my yard.  Well that eliminated many of the garden plants that have become my favorites.




We love decorative trellises, however, when covered with blooming plants the beauty is not visible!

Even the newly planted need a support to climb.

Pergolas are a great support but will probably require some ties to keep the plants headed in the right direction.

These are two type 2 clematis growing on one support.

Smaller clematis, six feet and under, do well on teuters.


In my small yard with fencing all around it is almost impossible to grow taller plants without plant supports.  The fence interferes with all around light so the plants bend forward.  I read a great article in Fine Gardening last year about using supports in the garden and this gave me the courage to go all out this year displaying my plants in the best possible manner.

This year I am ringing the Miscanthus Udine to keep it from encroaching on the pathway.  When the grass is grown the rings become invisible.

I brought the little metal fences from my last house and have always used them to keep the carex off the path.  Again, they will become invisible as the grass grows.

Blue Paradise Phlox is a favorite but it is much more floppy than other varieties.

The Limelight Hydrangea needs a little reigning in to keep it's branches from leaning over the neighbor's driveway, decorative fencing out in front is the answer.

Persicaria Polymorpha is a beautiful plant and this is my last ditch effort not to give it up.  It got beaten up pretty badly last year in our violent storms.  I have ringed them because the fence does not prevent the stems from breaking.

Lastly, the alley garden is fully supported this year, makes a big difference to ring them.

Many of my garden plants are supported by other plantings, i.e., daylilies coming up in front of Becky Shasta Daily, roses in front of phlox and lilies, etc.  But, if you really want to grow it you may have to support it!

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh how I needed to see some of these supports. Now, where did you purchase them?

Lona said...

The title does get your mind to cranking there at first. LOL! Eileen all your clematis vines are really growing fast. You do have some very pretty trellises. I get aggravated at plants that need staked up but I keep them anyway so no need to complain about them. LOL!Like you stated there are so many lovely ones that do need help.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Darla,

Most of the plain ring ones I got at Home Depot and the grid type from Gardeners Supply.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Lona,

I have used everything from sticks to wire and finally gave in to getting something more stable.

Eileen

joey said...

Great 'support', Eileen. Always in awe of your many creative ideas. Happy Spring :)

Jennifer said...

Eileen, This is one support group that I'd like to join! Your timing is perfect and is a nice reminder to make a simple, easily accomplished improvement over last year's garden. Have a great Easter!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Jennifer,

We will seee how these supports work this year. If they are visible I won't like them!

Eileen

Balisha said...

Happy Easter!
Balisha

Rosie Nixon Fluerty said...

Great post - I really need to support my calamagrostis - it's forever flopping in the rain in late summer - I had never even thought of giving a grass support.

Miss Lady Bug said...

Nice post. I like your site and I nominated it for the Sunshine Award. I think it's a fun award and I hope you find it interesting:

http://www.missladybugsgarden.com/1/post/2012/04/sunshine-award.html

Myfrenchkitchen said...

You're right...there re such beautiful and interesting supports available and in winter, they serve as "architectural" features in the garden!
Ronelle

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Rosie,

I have had trouble with that same grass and others say it is great at staying erect. I just got some chocolates from Ireland today from the cousins, ate too many!

Eileen

Betty819 said...

I have rings over my garden phlox. I kept them up over the winter as I have trouble getting the legs to stay on and figuring how to attach them is another story. There's a challenge for me who can't do puzzles, even children's..I know the detached legs are for storing purposes but wished they would make them permanent and not so they would collapse.

Betty819 said...

I've noticed that a lot of your flowerbeds aren't wider than about 3 ft. which sure makes everything managable to work with. I followed the existing flowerbeds that the original owner had created. The one beside the garage is 5 ft. wide and I really would like to decrease it but it would be so much involved; taking up scallopped brick pavers, and taking up a lot of plants but that's possible because I can always dig the plants up and plant them in temporary pots until I can pull up the pavers and dig a new trench for them, then replant the plants. In doing all this redesign of that flowerbed, it would mean about 2 ft. of lawn to be mowed by the landscaping contractor that does all our community. I would have to pay somebody to take up and dig the trench for the pavers to go back into, or do away with pavers completely, then I'd have to find a way of getting rid of them or storing them till somebody wants them. I could hire a landscaping company to come in and do it all but that can be expensive so guess I'll have to leave it as it is and make up my mind to like it!

garden girl said...

Looking good Eileen! Your supports will surely help with the floppy plants, and definitely will be sturdier than sticks and wire. You've got them in early too - good planning!