Staking Plants and Training Perennials for the Best Blooms
Something as simple as a stake can enhance, train, and support your perennial plants to get the best blooms and performance possible!
Staking and training your plants is an essential gardening practice that ensures your garden looks beautiful and remains healthy throughout the growing season.
Perennials, in particular, benefit from proper support and guidance to achieve their full blooming potential. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to stake and train your plants effectively.
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I still remember the first time I walked out to my garden after a rainy and windy storm. My once-proud delphiniums and oriental poppies were sprawled across the ground, their elegant stems bent under the weight of their rain-sodden blooms.
I felt a pang of regret—if only I had given them the support they needed. That experience taught me an invaluable lesson: staking and training plants isn’t just about keeping them upright; it’s about giving them the care and structure they need to thrive. Since then, I’ve discovered the joy of helping my perennials stand tall and proud, ensuring they deliver their best blooms year after year.
Let me share what I’ve learned.
Why Staking and Training Perennials is Important
Perennials are long-lived plants that return year after year, often growing taller and bushier with time. However, many of these plants develop heavy flower heads or long stems that can flop over without support. Staking and training provide several benefits:
Enhanced Bloom Quality:
Proper support prevents flowers from drooping or breaking especially if you live in a windy or rainy area.
Improved Air Circulation:
Upright plants are less prone to fungal diseases and pests.
A Neat Appearance:
Staking creates a tidy, organized look in your garden. Your decorative support structures can also provide winter interest.
See how to build this sweet Obelisk, beginner-friendly!
Prevent Damage:
Protect plants from wind, rain, or accidental breakage. Sometimes the support can also protect from animal grazing. (when I have issues with deer I use my tomato cages around plants, they are soon covered with foliage that disguises their homeliness but do protect the main stalk and leaves from hungry deer)
When to Stake and Train Your Perennials
The best time to stake perennials is early in the growing season before they grow too tall. Training and supporting plants early allows them to grow naturally around the supports, creating a more natural look. Some plants may need additional support mid-season as their blooms mature and stems grow heavier.
This is especially true for Peonies. It is much easier to set support around the peony base early in the season and allow it to grow up through the support.
DIY Peony Supports You Can Make!
Essential Tools and Materials for Staking
To successfully stake and train your perennials, gather the following tools:
- Stakes: Bamboo, metal, or wooden stakes work well. Choose materials that blend with your garden’s aesthetic.
- Trellises and Obelisks: Ideal for climbing plants like clematis or sweet peas.
- Plant Rings and Hoops: Useful for bushy plants like peonies or dahlias.
- Twine or Garden Ties: Use soft, flexible materials to avoid damaging stems. I use pantyhose strips. The stretch as the plant grows without restricting or digging into the soft plant growth.
- Grids or Frames: For wide-spreading plants that need support across multiple stems.
How to Stake and Train Perennials: Step-by-Step Guide
1. Select the Right Support System
Different plants require different types of support. For example:
- Tall, Single-Stemmed Plants (e.g., delphiniums): Use individual stakes.
- Bushy Perennials (e.g., daisies, peonies): Use hoops or grow-through grids.
- Climbing Plants (e.g., clematis): Train on trellises, obelisks, arbors or fences.
DIY Arbor
2. Install Supports Early
Place stakes or other supports in the ground early in the season when plants are small. This minimizes root disturbance and helps the plant grow naturally around the support.
3. Secure the Stems Gently
Use garden ties or twine to secure stems to stakes. Tie loosely to avoid constricting growth, and place ties just below flower buds for the best support.
4. Adjust as the Plant Grows
Periodically check the ties and adjust as necessary. Stems grow quickly, and ties that are too tight can cause damage.
5. Train Plants for Optimal Growth
- Climbers: Gently weave stems through trellis openings or tie them to the structure.
- Bushy Perennials: Encourage upright growth by spacing ties evenly along the stems.
Plant Supports and Cages
Recommended Perennials for Staking and Training
Certain perennials are more prone to flopping and require extra support. Here are some common ones:
- Delphiniums: Tall spires of flowers that need sturdy stakes.
- Peonies: Heavy blooms benefit from plant rings or grow-through supports.
- Phlox: Tall varieties may require staking to stay upright.
- Lupines: Delicate stems with multiple blooms need protection from wind.
- Clematis: Climbers that thrive when trained on trellises or arbors.
- Foxgloves: Tall flowers that bloom bottom to top and become top-heavy
Staking and Training Techniques for Maximum Blooms
- Pinching and Pruning: Pinch or prune back the growing tips of some perennials early in the season to encourage bushier growth and sturdier stems. Many call this the Chelsea Chop as you do this in May, about the time of the Chelsea Flower Show in Britain.
- Thinning: Remove excess growth to allow air circulation and reduce the weight of blooms and competition for fertility and water.
- Strategic Placement: Plant taller perennials in protected areas to shield them from strong winds, reducing the need for staking. I plant next to fences and secure them to it.
Parting Thoughts
I’ve found that staking and training perennials not only makes them look their best but also helps them stay healthier and produce more vibrant blooms. With the right tools, techniques, and timing, it’s surprisingly easy to create a garden that’s both beautiful and low-maintenance. I like to start early, keep an eye on my plants as they grow, and enjoy the payoff of strong, well-supported blooms all season long.
Happy Gardening!
Hi, I’m Pamela
My goal is to cultivate the love of gardening and help make your gardening life more enjoyable!
