Peonies are cottage garden favorites, but they can be prone to flopping. Support peonies with these practical ideas that can double as attractive features.
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Peonies are the most romantic blooms in the garden and make heavenly cut flowers. Unfortunately, these old-fashioned favorites are prone to falling over while the flowers are still in their prime.
This tends to happen after the rain, as the flower heads hold the water and their weak stems cannot take the extra weight. In addition, the plants rootballs need to be buried quite shallowly in the ground, meaning the flowers lack natural support for peonies.
Proper peony care will help to promote stronger stems, so ensure your plant is positioned in a sunny spot in rich, loamy, and well-draining soil. In spring, water deeply and fertilize peonies. However, certain types of peonies are simply more prone to falling over.
Unfortunately, it is the lovely blousy herbaceous peonies that are more susceptible. So if you don’t wish to add supports, then choose varieties bred to have stronger stems, such as Itoh peonies and hybrids.
Peonies are prized for their lush fragrant blooms that appear in late spring. However their large, heavy flower heads often cause the plants to flop over, ruining their beauty. Properly propping up peonies is crucial for keeping them looking their best. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best techniques for supporting peonies to prevent flopping.
Why Peonies Flop Over
Peonies produce big, multi-layered flowers on top of slender stems. This top-heavy structure makes them prone to drooping and falling over, especially after rain or wind. Their weak stems simply can’t provide enough support once the flower heads reach full size. Lack of sunlight reaching lower portions of the plant also contributes to weak stems.
When to Prop Up Peonies
It’s best to put supports in place early, before peony stems lengthen and buds open. Wait until plants are 4-6 inches tall in spring to avoid damaging the crowns. You can also prop peonies in fall after cutting back spent plants. Spring is busier, so fall staking is easier to remember.
Materials for Propping Up Peonies
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Single stakes – Bamboo wood, or metal stakes from 1/2 – 1 inch wide work well. Avoid thin stakes that could pierce stems.
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Cages or rings – Wire hoops with legs provide excellent support. Some have mesh tops. Get large diameter cages.
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Twine or ribbon – Jute, twine, stretch tape, or twist ties securely tie stems to supports.
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Netting – Plastic mesh nets keep branching stems contained.
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Coat hangers – Heavy wire coathangers make DIY hoop supports.
Methods for Staking Peonies
Single Stake
Best for potted or small plants. Pound 1-2 sturdy stakes around peony, 1-2 inches from stems. Tie each stem individually to support.
Cages
Hoop-shaped cages or rings anchor over plants, allowing stems to grow through openings. Ideal for mature plants.
Corralling
Drive stakes around peony’s perimeter. Wrap twine around stakes and peony stems for support. Good for bushes.
Wrapping
Ring peony with stakes. Wrap with mesh netting, securing top and bottom. Use for long rows.
Coat Hangers
Bend coat hangers into hoops. Push legs into ground. Circle peony stems for support. Cheap DIY option.
Step-by-Step Staking Instructions
Follow these steps to properly stake peonies:
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Purchase stakes, cages, or other materials listed above.
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Wait until peonies are 4-6 inches tall. Prepare stakes and supports.
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For cages, place the structure over plants, centering them inside. Push legs into ground.
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For corralling, pound sturdy stakes 1-2 feet apart around plants.
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Tie twine tightly to one stake. Wrap around peony stems and continue to next stake.
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Wrap twine firmly around each stake, creating a web around peony.
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Check ties occasionally and loosen any too tight.
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Remove supports after blooming finishes to avoid damaging plants.
Pro Tips
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Stake tall-growing varieties like ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ which need more support.
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Avoid staking in very windy weather when stems are brittle.
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Use soft jute or cloth ties to prevent stem damage from rough materials.
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Make sure cages and corrals are larger than the root ball to avoid harming roots.
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Add a layer of compost or manure annually to strengthen stems.
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Cut back supports that exceed peony height to keep flowers visible.
Enjoy Strong, Beautiful Peonies
Taking the time to properly prop up peonies really pays off with an extended bloom time and gorgeous floral display. Use one of these techniques to keep peonies standing tall. With just a bit of effort, you’ll be rewarded with armloads of fragrant blossoms to decorate with. Soon your neighbors will be asking for tips to grow peonies as perfect as yours!
Give each stem an individual support using stakes (Image credit: Getty Images/
If you have peonies with particularly large and heavy heads, you might want to stake each of them individually. This may also be a useful technique if your plants have already succumbed to adverse weather and are looking very floppy.
Simply take wooded garden stakes – these bamboo canes from Amazon are ideal – or thin branches you have previously cut from the garden. Place them an inch from the base of each stem and secure in place using garden twine, like this natural jute twine from Walmart. I usually tie in two places, one towards the base of the stem and another higher up. Leave a little room for the stem to grow, and take care not to crush any foliage. This method also works very well if youre growing peonies in containers.
I use natural twine over plastic ties with my plants because it is softer on the stems, is biodegradable, and can easily be reused in the future.
How to support peonies: 7 expert ways to stop them from flopping
It’s useful to think about peony supports before your plants go in or begin to grow again. Take care not to damage the stems or the crown, and also ensure they are not bound too tightly, as they will require room to grow and airflow between the stems and heads.
Even if you’ve never added peony supports before, or your plants are already fully grown, there will be a method below that suits your yard and the way you like to garden.
How we use peony supports to hold up the Peony Blooms
FAQ
How can I keep my peonies from falling over?
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Longfield Gardenshttps://www.longfield-gardens.com4 Ways to Support Peonies from Falling Over – Longfield GardensCorralling is the most cost-effective way to support peonies. Start by pushing 4 to 6 strong stakes into the ground around the plant’s perimeter. If your peony …
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Gardening Know Howhttps://www.gardeningknowhow.comHow To Support Peonies: Keep Flowers From Falling OverMay 26, 2024 — Supporting each individual flower stem with its own stake before the flowers bloom is a more time-consuming process. However, it responds to the nat…
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Iowa State Universityhttps://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.eduHow to Manage Potential Problems Growing Peonies | Yard and GardenFlopping While in Bloom Many peony flowers have double or triple the number of petals – making them too heavy for their stems to support. Therefore, staking the…
How do you support peonies to grow?
Season-by-Season Peony Care Chart
Install a support structure around any top-heavy established plants; old tomato cages can be trimmed down to ensure that your blooms remain upright. Prune your peony throughout its summer growing season—but avoid cutting it back.
How to make a peony support?
- Gather Materials: You’ll need sturdy stakes (wood or metal), twine (jute or garden twine), and possibly some garden netting or velcro plant tape.
- Stake Placement: Insert 4-6 stakes around the perimeter of the peony plant, slightly outside the edge of the foliage.
- Twine Loops: Create a lower loop of twine around the plant, securing it to the stakes.
- Upper Loops (Optional): Add a second loop of twine higher up, just below the flower buds, for additional support.
- Taut Tension: Ensure the twine is pulled taut and securely tied to the stakes.
Why are my peonies flopping over?
Their weighty blooms cause the weak stems to bend, so they droop. After a rain, the flowers hold water like petaled bowls, which causes them to drop to the ground. Tomato cages can certainly work, but some garden supply companies make even stronger perennial cages that do the job better.
How to grow a peony bush?
Just make sure that the type of support you use is the right size for your plant. Small ones can easily be contained with a grow-through cage. But a large peony bush will require something stronger and wider. If the supports you use are too short, it’s not going to do much good. The flowers will simply collapse right over the top of them.
How do you keep a peony plant upright?
You can use a stake and twine or hoop to keep your peony plants upright as they grow and give them additional support. Some people like to use wire tomato cages, but I prefer to use peony cages to support my peonies. Peony cages are used to provide support to the growing plants. This helps keep the plant’s flowers and foliage upright.
How do you support a peony hoop?
Staking – Once your peonies get really large, they will need a much stronger support. Usually, at this point, staking is the best option. If you’re using wire cages, or another type of grow-through support, position them so that the plant is centered in the middle of the hoop. Then you can simply push the wire legs into the ground.
How do you support a row of peonies?
To support a row of peonies, one effective method is to install sturdy trellises at regular intervals along the row. These trellises can be made of metal or wood, and should be spaced approximately every 4-8 feet. Secure the trellises firmly into the ground so they can provide stable support.
How do you attach peonies to a cage?
If any of the stems are too long to bend back into the cage, you can tie them to it using twine, plastic stretch ribbon or select-a-size wire. If your peonies are too big for cage-type supports, then you can stake them instead. It’s easy, and you only need a few things to get the job done.
How do peonies grow?
As the peonies grow, they will naturally grow through the rings, staying upright and sturdy. These rings also conveniently hide within the foliage once the peonies bloom, ensuring a clean and visually appealing garden. Another recommended support method is the use of peony grids.