Pea-staking, a quaintly-named method widely used in English gardens but perhaps less familiar here in the United States, is a good staking approach for floppy, multiple-stemmed perennials such as coreopsis, helenium, some campanulas, tall hardy geraniums, or hardy asters. It is best done when plants are about six inches tall. Twiggy branches (choose twigs with a three-dimensional branching habit) are sharpened at one end and pushed into the ground around the sides of the perennial, angling slightly toward the middle. Large clumps or groupings benefit from a few pea stakes positioned in the center as well, so that the plants are supported evenly from within. The twigs should be six inches shorter than the plant's mature height so that they will eventually be completely covered.
The greatest difficulty involved with pea-stakes is the availability of twiggy brush. Birch, pin oak, and buddleia work well, but some trees and shrubs, such as privet or linden that may be too brittle. One of the least obtrusive and most natural staking methods when done correctly, pea-staking deserves consideration for many perennials.
Single Stakes
For plants that have only a few stems with large, heavy flowers, such as delphiniums, dahlias, lilies, or the larger-flowered chrysanthemums, individual staking with round or square wood poles or bamboo canes is a popular method. Tying should begin when the stalk has fully elongated, just as buds are ready to open, unless the stems begin to lean or twist precariously before this. Green garden twine, soft string, or pliable wire embedded in plastic are used to secure the stems to the stakes. Wrap the string around the stake, cross it forming a figure eight between the stake and the stem, knot them, and cut the ends. The twist in the tie between stem and stake helps minimize damage to the stem; take care also not to tie too tightly, and don't use uncovered wire that might constrict or damage the stem.
If you find that a single stout stake seems too rigid or overwhelming for your plant, use three or four smaller bamboo stakes around each stem, about two-thirds the height of the mature stalk (or below the blossom). Tie the twine around the stakes rather than around the plant itself, forming a kind of supportive "cage" that allows the plant some movement. Commercially available wire stakes, twisted at the top to hold the stem gently, are a faster alternative, though often not as effective.
Stake-and-Twine Methods
Perennials that grow in dense, leafy clumps, such as asters, bee balm, heliopsis, and Shasta daises, can be effectively supported with a framework made of bamboo stakes and twine, though if you're not careful with this method your plants may end up with a constrained look that fairly shout, "Don't fence me in." A particularly artful alternative to a stick-and-twine "corral" involves surrounding the clump with four or more stakes set about eight inches apart. With twine, weave from opposite stake to opposite stake through the clump until you've connected all of the stakes in a star pattern. Do this right before the plant begins to loll, or just as the flower buds begin to show color. This supports clumps with a very natural look.
Another method, though somewhat time consuming to employ, involves placing a stake near the middle of a plant and running a string or piece of twine from the stake to each stem of the plant, tying the stem according to the natural growth habit of the plant. Done with an artful hand, this method may be the most graceful and natural-looking of all the stake-and-twine treatments.
Metal Rings and Linking Stakes
Bushy perennials such as peonies with large, heavy flowers do well with the support of circular metal frames. The peony foliage will grow and fill in to conceal the support.
Try linking metal stakes for speed and permanence; though these tend to be expensive, they come in a variety of sizes, penetrate the soil easily, and by design they preclude the need for string, although a bit of string will often improve their effectiveness. They will last from season to season. Metal linking stakes may not work if your lounging plant is a tall one, though the plant may require a veritable jungle gym of metal stakes for adequate support.
Methods of Staking Perennials
