Almost all vines require some type of trellis, and you can be endlessly creative as you devise or purchase arches, iron or wood trellises, or panels of wooden lattice that will hold wandering stems aloft. Single upright pillars and openwork obelisks tend to become unstable after they become heavy with plants, so it is crucial that they be deeply and firmly anchored in the ground. Arches are less likely to topple, but if you live in a windy area, it may be best to grow vines on wooden trellises that are securely attached to walls.
Many bushy and upright perennials also benefit from support, which should be tailored to the growth habit of each plant. For example, tall hollyhocks, lilies, and snapdragons can be loosely tied to thin wooden or bamboo stakes pushed into the ground near the base of the plants. It is best to use three twine-wrapped stakes to surround each plant, so that the plant will be able to sway in the wind, but will not snap off at the point where it would be tied to a single stake.
In order to hold up bushier perennials, such as peonies, that tend to flop over when they become heavy with blossoms, you should invest in metal plant supports fashioned into hoops or grids. If you can't find acceptable products at retail stores, check the huge selection of plant supports sold by garden mail-order catalogs. Whether you choose interlocking links, circular grow-through supports, or upright metal stakes with "arms" that bend, you will find them invaluable for keeping your favorite flowers high and dry. And, what could be easier than placing a support ring over a peony when it is just beginning to grow in spring, marking its spot while bracing new stems against the forces of wind and rain? Other flowers that benefit from circular or grow-through plant supports include balloon flower, foxglove, gladiolus, gypsophila, larkspur, rudbeckia, sneeze weed, and tithonia.
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