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Support for Stipa Gigantea

cazza102carolcazza102carol Posts: 28
in Problem solving
Morning

Anyone have any ideas on how best to support Stipa Gigantea stems without it looking a mess.  The rain has knocked down three long stems (which seem a bit floppy to be honest) and I have tried to bind the stem to support it on one but it didn't work.  

Posts

  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,422
    This plant produces so many canes, upwards of 100 on a mature bush, that cutting off a few floppy ones means I don't miss them too much.   Perhaps your plant is ahead of mine, and taller, as right now it doesn't need attention despite the rain..

    I lift and root prune my plant on occasions to reduce the size, so I get about 50 canes, which is more than enough for me, and easier to manage.. this is mine at the moment..



    ..some of those front ones will bend over later in the season, after rain, so I will just remove them at that time... plenty left...
    East Anglia, England
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,238
    Sorry to hijack this thread but @Marlorena could you please tell me which rose is growing behind your grass? - the yellowey / apricot one?

    I have a couple in similar colours and they work very well with all the blues and purples in the border. Always on the look out for another.....
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,593
    I think that if you try to support grasses, they will always look naff.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • cazza102carolcazza102carol Posts: 28
    Thanks everyone.  I have two in the garden and one is similar to Marlorena's but the other is very tall and the canes are pretty floppy and I don't have as many canes on it.  Maybe if I take a couple off, more will grow?  I may try supporting the individual canes with some micropore.  If it works, I will let you know.  BTW, I agree that using supports on grasses look naff.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,495
    Perhaps it is not in the right spot. If it is too sheletered the stems will be softer and more tender, so more likely to flop.  Mine grows on top of a bank, exposed to every wind that blows and stood right into the winter!
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,422
    @Topbird ...

    Hi Topbird, just to answer your question about my yellow rose, it's one called 'Absolutely Fabulous' [I can't say I like this name].. but it's a great rose. It's just started to bloom, but goes on all summer long without cease..  Mine is 4 x 4 foot currently and destined to get bigger, I should think 5 x 5 before too long, perhaps too big for my border..

    The scent is like licorice or myrrh...  it did get some blackspot in year 1 but now year 3 it's very clean and was last year too..  large foliage, a most beautiful floribunda rose, it is truly 'fabulous'...
    East Anglia, England
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,238
    Thanks @Marlorena - it looks to be a very nice rose in a lovely border. I do like the myrrh scented roses...

    @cazza102carol - just wondering if a few short, fine brushwood / pea sticks might provide some nearly invisible support for your grass? I use short lengths of birch trimmings to support a few floppy hardy geraniums.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • cazza102carolcazza102carol Posts: 28
    Good idea thanks!
  • UpNorthUpNorth Posts: 376
    cazza102carol said:
    Morning

    Anyone have any ideas on how best to support Stipa Gigantea stems without it looking a mess.  The rain has knocked down three long stems (which seem a bit floppy to be honest) and I have tried to bind the stem to support it on one but it didn't work.  
    I just wonder, you're not looking at last years brown stems that need to go?  These are new green ones?
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