Items like saplings, branches, bamboo, old pipes, recycled pool cues, and broken brooms can all be "upcycled" into garden stakes for your lawn. Some gardeners prefer to add a touch of weather-resistant paint to these items to give them a more finished look.
Depending on the height and longevity you want, bamboo sticks are usually the easiest and cheapest option in my area. Plastic tomato stakes too if you can get a hold of them (they cost more when I was looking, so I went with bamboo). In a pinch, I've also used sturdy tree branches from my crape myrtles.
The objective is to create a basket-like cage over the plant by bending the twigs toward each other. If the stems are very twiggy, you can simply intertwine them in a way that they stay connected. To reinforce the structure, feel free to weave in additional stems on the sides or across the top.
Staking plants or giving them support will keep plants from falling over. You can also use hog wire and let the plants grow through it.
Supporting them can make all the difference in how your garden looks, and the health of the plants. It's easy using purchased plant supports, or a simple combination of garden stakes and twine.
In this case, you should use one garden stake for each plant. Manufacturers make garden stakes from various materials, including bamboo, plastic, wood, steel and other metals. To stake using single plant stakes, hammer each about 6 inches into the ground. Tie the plant to the stake about two-thirds up the stem.
Step 2: Tie your plant using string
Take a length of string and carefully secure the plant to the stake. There's a balancing act in how firmly to tie the string. If it's too tight, it may damage the plant, but if it's too loose it won't give enough support.
Be creative and use things like window frames with chicken wire attached across it, ladders, bamboo frames, pallets – anything that plants can climb up to create a screen, add privacy or vertical interest. The easiest trellis to build is a bamboo frame that climbing vegetables can be trained to grow up.
A simple inexpensive way to make plant stakes is torip fencing boards into 1/2” strips andcut them to desired lengths. Oftentimes you can use an existing support to attach ties to your plants. This could be a hook, nail, or pipe that is already on your house. Attach your plants to a wall using self-adhesive anchors.
You might be tempted to grab a piece of cardboard or a wooden shim, but if these options get wet they can grow mildew or rot. Using a plastic shim to stabilize your potted plant is the best option.
There are a few things you can use instead of tent stakes, depending on the terrain and conditions you're dealing with. If you're camping in rocky ground, you can use big rocks to hold down your tent. If there are logs nearby, you can use them too. If there's a tree, you can tie your tent to it.
Take your steel rod and bend it around a large, curved object – a tree trunk is a good option, if you have one in your garden. This should make a croquet hoop shape, with a curved top and two roughly even straight legs. There's no need for any extra equipment, as the 6mm diameter rods are easy to bend just by hand.
For shorter plants such as peonies, phlox or euphorbias, I weave pea sticks and willow into a dome about 45cm above the young foliage. Pea sticks are the young twiggy growth of hazel or dogwoods; any young, firm branches work.
Stretchy woven cotton fabric
"You can use old worn out T-shirts cut or ripped into strips," Sophie says. Sophie uses it to secure her New Guinea bean to an archway by gently looping and tying the stem to the support with a granny knot.
Zip ties can hold significant weight, making them ideal for supporting heavier plants or structures. This durability ensures your garden remains secure and well-maintained, regardless of the weather conditions. Truly, zip ties are a cost-effective and reliable option for gardeners.
When you're tying the plant off, be careful not to tie it too tight. This can cause injury as the plant grows and the tie cuts into the plant's stem. To prevent this, use a stretchy tie, such as strips of nylon or special plant ties. Taller plants may require several ties at different points along the stems.
Rebar is an excellent option. I've used a variety of staking materials over the years based on what I could find or afford: wood, bamboo, metal conduit, and the green plastic-coated ones. The staking I would choose over all is rebar, the steel bar used to reinforce concrete.
To reduce weeds around plants and shrubs, apply a layer of bark or pine mulch around each one. Mulch offers multiple decorative and practical benefits to your garden.
Line the bottom of the planters with rocks (a few inches high worth,) and drill small holes in the tops of the pots, then use zip ties to anchor them to the slats in your balcony. I would recommend both of these methods for your especially tall plants.
In addition, wind blowing on a small seedling or newly emerged spring plant helps the plant create a stronger stem. Each time a plant is pushed by the wind, it releases a hormone called an auxin that stimulates the growth of supporting cells.
“Bamboo stakes are a great way to keep plants upright with very little management,” Cheshire and Hull explain. “Simply pop them into the soil and lean the strongest stems against them. You could also use support clips to attach them, which are quite readily available online.”