All About Ties and Plant Supports

Plant support groups

Just getting along with your dahlias or pole beans won't make anyone envy your garden the way you want them to. Even if you don't admit to having a competitive edge when it comes to your plants, most gardeners have a tough time disguising a little jealousy when a clearly superior tomato plant peaks over their fence from the neighbor's yard.  Avoid these unpleasant realities of the garden, participate in some good-spirited competition, and cultivate the most bounteous vegetable garden in the suburbs.

For tomorrow's power plant

Honestly, plant supports should be a feature in everyone's garden.  There are endless styles and colors to choose from, ranging from decorative to completely inconspicuous.  Should you be focusing on an overall aesthetic, rather than purely output, look for iron garden sculptures that double as plant supports.  While a genuine wrought-iron cage obelisk will probably cost you about 200 dollars, there are plenty of quality substitutes for much less.  A more avant-garde or risque look can be achieved through modern wire sculptures outlining a human figure.  A true garden artist can thread plants through these forms, making the garden appear illustrated.

Plantastical!

Somewhere between strictly functional and aesthetic is the garden maypole.  You've seen these simple poles erected in the middle of gardens, attached to the ground by simple wires hidden beneath a coat of climbing annuals.  The garden maypole is perfect for perennials, sweet peas or clematis.  And when it's time to harvest, you'll find every plant can be picked without a sweat. 

Plants, growing like weeds

If you still don't subscribe to garden plant supports as decoration, get any number of products that are made to blend in with the surrounding greenery.  The Veggie Cage, a new product for just about any climbing plant, is a spiral green rod meant to wrap around the whole plant.  The height is completely adjustable, so nothing is shooting over the height of your plants.  But regardless of what the producers tell you, it can be quite noticeable if the plant just isn't big enough.  Even more discreet are the Pinnups Plant Supports.  A single rod centered amongst plants can accommodate several adjustable rings, each for a specific plant. 

Though some may think their operation doesn't merit spending money on plant supports, this implies a low garden budget.  If you don't have the spare cash to get yourself a fancy iron obelisk or trellis, the job can be done on the cheap.  Nylon support nets offer up the same services, plus they are equally durable and more mobile.

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