Plant Supports: Choosing and Using Stakes, Cages, Trellises & More

Tall, top-heavy, or wind-exposed plants need support to stay upright and healthy. The right support — installed at the right time — is nearly invisible and prevents damage. Here's a guide to types, techniques, and which plants need what.

Common Support Types

• Stakes: Single rods for tomatoes, delphiniums, young trees.
• Cages: Wire cylinders for tomatoes, peonies, bushy perennials.
• Hoops/grids: Semi-circular or circular supports for floppy plants (phlox, asters).
• Trellises: Flat panels for climbers (clematis, beans, roses).
• Fences/walls: Existing structures for vines with tendrils or twining stems.

How to Install and Tie

• Install early — at planting for cages/hoops; before roots establish for stakes.
• Tie loosely with soft materials: twine, plant tape, strips of pantyhose (they stretch).
• Allow movement — stems need to sway to develop strength.
• Match support to vine type: Tendrils need netting/trellis; twining stems need poles/wires; suction-cup vines (Boston ivy) climb walls.

When to Stake

• Wait until stem is near full height before tying to a stake — avoids constant retying.
• Exception: if plant is already leaning, stake immediately.
• Cages/hoops go in at planting so growth fills them naturally.

Plants That Typically Need Support

Tomatoes, peonies, delphiniums, hollyhocks, dahlias, gladiolus, sweet peas, climbing roses, clematis, pole beans, cucumbers, and any plant in a windy site.

When in doubt, stake. It's easier than rescuing a broken plant.