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It can be incredibly frustrating to head out to the garden after a spring rainstorm, only to discover that your newly bloomed peonies have fallen over. Peony plant supports can help prevent that dreaded flop that will decimate those beautiful flowers. The bloom period is already fleeting, so why not try to enjoy peony flowers for longer?
I have about eight plants around my yard, all providing various shades of pink petals in the spring. They don’t all bloom at the same time, so when they’re in season, I get to enjoy freshly cut peonies in vases for a few weeks. However, if I just paid a little more attention in the early spring, I’d also get to enjoy them in the garden for longer.
When to add peony plant supports
Peony blooms are heavy. Without some type of support system, they’ll open and then all it takes is one heavy spring storm or an especially gusty day and they flop over.
The best time to add peony plant supports is in the early spring before the stems get too high. If you have pruned your peonies in the late fall, wait until the fresh shoots start to appear from the earth so that you don’t inadvertently place the support on part of the crown.
You could also position supports in the fall after you cut back the plants. That way they’re already there in the springtime when the plants start to grow in.
Whichever support you use, be sure to push it in so that there are a few inches underground. You want the support to withstand the eventual weight of peony flowers. If you forget to add a support, be aware that if you try to add it after the plants have started growing, you risk damaging those delicate spring shoots.
Types of peony plant supports
There are several different types of metal supports you can use. A bonus of using metal supports is they will last a long time. Some come as two semi circles that you place on either side, allowing you to control the diameter and adjust the support where you need it to be. As the plant widens over time, you can make adjustments. This one provides a hinge that you can adjust accordingly. My peony hoop has three stakes that you can adjust around the circle and press into the ground (after a bit of finagling).
Some peony hoops look similar to tomato cages with a few rings placed up the vertical stakes. These, however, are usually wider to accommodate a bigger peony. Others include an inner grid, providing the stems with more individual support as they grow.
Many supports are powder-coated in green so that they are camouflaged by the plant. Keep in mind that the foliage will likely grow in enough to hide whichever support you decide to use.
It’s possible to use plant supports that are labeled for other types of plants. Be mindful of tomato cages as they are narrower at the bottom, so they might not be wide enough to clear the crown.
DIY peony plant supports
A simple wooden frame can have the same effect as a metal peony support (though it won’t last as long). Eight 2×2 wood stakes can be turned into a sturdy plant support.
Stakes and twine could be used as a support, but keep in mind the weight of peony blooms. You’ll want to position stakes closely together (and position them deeply) and make sure the string is secure and pulled very taut.
Even well-supported peonies can flop from a strong spring storm. But thinking ahead by adding plant supports can definitely help to keep them around for a bit longer.
More peony advice
- Fertilizing peonies
- Propagating peonies
- What to do if you discover powdery mildew
- Seven reasons your peonies may not be blooming
Correction— grows like weeds!! but also grows in weeks!!! haha
Ditto! sturdy, simple and effective.
I have very large and very heavy peonies so I use construction type rebar that stays in place all year round. It looks a little unsightly until the greenery gets tall enough, but they certainly do the trick. I use a rubber coated gardening wire to encircle them and it works great!!! I am in Canada and where we live everything grows like weeks!!!!!
My peonies are growing over 50″ tall. They not only fall over the top of the cage, but they always fall mainly in one direction so the cage starts to fall over from the one-sided loan. I need a taller, stronger solution than the standard peony cage.
I will try shopping for longer, thicker stakes, then try adding a circular wire frame if available. However, I don’t want buy complete cages just for a top rim, so I’m not sure what I’ll end up buying. Hopefully an elegant solution exists, since something too flexible like ribbon or rope will cause the falling peonies to collect in a corner at each stake.
Oops! I meant “load”, not “loan”.
Let me know what you discover!
I identify so well with not getting outside to get my peony supports out in time. I think of it then never seem to get back to doing it — I’m in the northeast and work during the week and inevitably it rains on weekends and bam! They are up and budding and another spring goes by with no supports and my beautiful flowers end up laying on the ground. Ho hum… maybe tomorrow but again it’s supposed to rain or maybe even SNOW!
I’ve been using old lampshades. Remove the fabric and use the wire part.
Great idea!
That’s so clever!
Less waste & a happy plant. Smart!
That’s a novel idea! I would never have thought of that!
I don’t leave my peony supports up. The snow would destroy them. I enjoy putting them back around my peonies in the spring because I don’t need an excuse to get out in the garden after a long winter. I have about 20 peony varieties now and I use the basic 2 hoop design available at any big box garden center. Wouldn’t do without ’em!
I leave my supports up all year – it keeps me from forgetting where the blasted things are, come early Spring and also protects the tender shoots from me and the dog, as we go into the Hill Border for the beginning of cleanup. I leave my peony leaves on the plant until early Winter and, if I forget, I just cut them down in very early Spring.
That’s a good idea, Anita! 🙂
I raise many varieties of peonies that don’t need support, no matter the weather. They include the Itoh (intersectional peonies) and many that have strong, sturdy stems. Lots of them available at Brooks Gardens peonies.
Herbaceous peonies need support. Itoh and tree peonies don’t (according to some research I just did). I just used tomato cages to support my new ones I planted today.