Spider Webbing

A Technique for Staking and Tying Perennial Plants

I have devised a method for staking and tying up perennial plants that works like a charm. The plants stand up tall, do not bunch up and fall over in one direction after a heavy rain storm, and completely hide the stakes holding them up.

For most perennial plants you need 5 stakes. These should be sturdy bamboo or cedar. The stakes should be the same length as the ultimate height of the plant. Push the stakes well into the soil, evenly spaced around the plant, slightly leaning away from the plant. They should end up to be 6-8" below the ultimate height of the plant. [Hint: Place the mouse over each photo for a description]

Use a good sturdy twine. I recommend "Knotty" Garden Twine as it is very strong, of a dark colour (so won’t show), is easy to knot and re-tie and lasts for years.

Tie the twine to the first stake about a foot from the ground.
Go around the circle of stakes looping the twine around each stake as you go.
When you reach the first stake again, then go to every other stake in the circle and loop the twine around each alternate stake as you go. This will form a star within the circle.
Tie the twine off at the first stake again.
Repeat steps 1-4, 2 feet above the ground.
Repeat steps 1-4, 3 feet above the ground… until you reach the top to the stakes. Eg. A Peony should need three tiers, a Daisy needs 4-5 tiers.

Note: The twine has been highlighted for clarity in the images below:

If the plant is very large in diameter, you can use 6 or more stakes. This will create more crosses within the circle giving the plant stems more support.

This method of staking should be done in spring before the plant has started to grow. If you do a lot of these Spiderwebs in your perennial beds the garden will look a little odd for a short time. As soon as the plant starts to grow you should tuck the shoots in between the spaces created by the Spiderweb. They will soon grow up through and cover the Spiderweb, stakes and all.

For permanent plants like Peonies, I leave the Spiderwebs over the plants all year round and just cut the dead stems away in the winter.

This method of staking is especially good for plants with heavy blooms such as Peonies and for plants with many stems that tend to sprawl all over the place if not staked, or if staked with just a tie around them, the whole plant falls over after the first heavy rain storm.

Ann Pentland
apentland@sharedvisions.com

Please contact Ann Pentland at apentland@sharedvisions.com if you have any questions about Spider Webbing or obtaining "Knotty" Garden Twine or try ordering online from the "Knotty" Garden Twine page.