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Plant supports

mandyroberts99mandyroberts99 Posts: 235
in Problem solving
I need plant supports for things that don't easily attach to a bamboo pole eg 
Eryngium alpinum. I was thinking of the metal type with 2 semi circles you can attach to each other but they are quite expensive - I probably have 10 plants that need this type of support. Any suggestions?
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  • mandyroberts99mandyroberts99 Posts: 235
    Treeface said:
    Cheap metal coat hangers bent into the shape you want.
    Not big enough
  • TackTack Posts: 1,367
    edited July 2020
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/diy/how-to-make-steel-supports-for-perennials/ Maybe this would give you ideas, I guess you can get different lengths and widths

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    That steel support has been done since Geoff H was the GW presenter.  You need to go to a builders' merchant and buy 5 or 6mm rusty rods.   Any thicker and you can neither cut them with normal bolt cutters nor bend them without heat.

    I my last garden I used to buy 5 or 6 m lengths, cut them in two and then bend the middle round a railway sleeper then bend up the tow end to make the verticals that push into the soil.   So far, in this area, I've only found 8mm rods and they need an angle grinder to cut and someone bigger than me to bend them.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • mandyroberts99mandyroberts99 Posts: 235
    @Obelixx thanks, have found these online which providing I work out how many I need and do 1 order is a reasonable delivery charge, I can't find anything this diameter locally
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    @mandyroberts99 You might be interested in this page on my garden site:
    Making Your Own Metal Plant Supports
  • mandyroberts99mandyroberts99 Posts: 235
    @Treeface my Sea Holly have turned into triffids and get bigger each year. The Achillea is OK this year (just) but its only been planted this year. I have some smaller plants where coat hangers will work well but are also fine with string. What do you attach the hangers on to?
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I find the bend metal rods above don't work at all to support weight. They are ok to keep very light leaves off the ground, not to actually support plants.
  • mandyroberts99mandyroberts99 Posts: 235
    pansyface said:
    For a bit of class you could always look at Harrod Horticultural’s website. 🙂
    Oh dear - they have some lovely stuff. I've never looked at them before
  • mandyroberts99mandyroberts99 Posts: 235
    Fire said:
    I find the bend metal rods above don't work at all to support weight. They are ok to keep very light leaves off the ground, not to actually support plants.
    Why? Can't they take the weight?
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    mandyroberts99 said: Why? Can't they take the weight?
    No, they, they can't take any weight as are just two thin rods in the ground. If you put weight on them they keel straight forward. A tripod, deeply planted is a much stronger structure.

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