Does anyone know of a semi-easy way to support zinnias planted in masses. Last year (first year gardening) I used one stake and tied the zinnia limb by limb to the stake. Needless to say it didn't work well and was very time consuming. Thanks for the help.

-- Melissa Munroe (mmml@digitalexp.com), February 14, 2002

Answers

tomato cage?

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 14, 2002.

Garden centres sell supports like peony hoops that have the centre filled with a grid. You could probably make something yourself from weld wire with about 1 1/2" or 2" holes, and place several supports around the edges. You could probably use something like step-in electric fence posts for your supports, or anything similar. The idea is to get the plants growing through the holes, so you need to put it in the garden early.

-- Bernie from Northern Ontario (bernadette_kerr@hotmail.com), February 14, 2002.

I've always found the best support is to interplant coreopsis--they look beautiful together and coreopsis is a perennial.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), February 14, 2002.

I saw a really cute little fence type thing that someone made for their sunflowers. It was like a wooden fence with little posts and they had nailed boards around it. Very cute. They called it a sunflower frame. It was on Garden plans.com I think that was it.

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), February 14, 2002.

I've grown zinnias in the garden for several years and never heard of staking them. Mine have done fine without support.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), February 14, 2002.

I planted the giants last year and I didn't support mine either...but I wish that I did because every time it rained or the wind blew they really took a beating. They would really look cute with a white fence around them too. Just type in that thing up there in your search engine and it should come up.

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), February 14, 2002.

Melissa, I use that 2"X2" latex covered wire, 48" high. I think you are talking about the beauties that grow quite tall with the gorgeous huge flowers on them. Just love 'em! The wire is coated green so doesn't take away from the beauty of the flowers. Good luck, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), February 15, 2002.

LQ, where do you get that latex covered wire? It sounds great for a LOT of flowers. I have trouble with my giant 4 or 5 feet tall marigolds too.(Those crackerjack ones) I put chicken poo compost on them and they get huge!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), February 15, 2002.

Melissa, Try using a piece of wire fencing (the latex coated green stuff sounds good) BUT... instead of putting it AROUND the bed, prop it OVER it. If you have a square or rectangular bed all you have to do is cut it to length. If your bed is free form or round, just lay the section of fence down on the bed, trace the bed outline onto the wire with a magic marker, and cut it out with wire cutters or tin snips. Then prop the fence section up on rocks or bricks (or attach long thick wires around the perimeter and poke those in the ground)at the height you need. As the flowers grow, they will go through the openings and the fencing will virtually disappear! It works really well because it supports ALL the stems - not just the ones on the perimeter. AND it doesn't give your planting that "Squeezed" look that you get when you confine them in a tall fence. It also gives you more options in the way you edge your beds since the edging is purely decorative and not supporting the flowers. Try it and see what you think. Good Luck!

-- Deborah Stephenson (wonkaandgypsy@hotmail.com), February 21, 2002.