Keeping agapanthus upright

Penny92

I need tips for preventing my tall agapanthus from flopping over. I have a dozen clumps of various sizes since they self-seed around the garden, and there's no way I can stake each flower head. I've tried semicircular supports but if the support is too high, flowers slip underneath and if it's too short it's not much better than having nothing. I don't mind a bit of floppiness, I just don't want the flower heads on the ground.

Thanks.

K67

Depends on your budget. Ruddings Wood do frames for roses which might work.
Several bamboo canes and twine a cheaper option but getting support in early is best then you can tuck the stems and leaves inside as they grow so it's too late for this year 😥

Penny92

Thanks. I've left everything too late this year!

K67

Penny92 said:

Thanks. I've left everything too late this year!

Always the way, they just wait until your back is turned and suddenly they have grown a foot or so.

country_lass

I have the same problem with my Crocosmia. I'm thinking of providing a "wind barrier" both front and back of the plant by planting a taller plant behind the crocosmia and a shorter shrub in front to shield them from the winds and prevent the crocosmia from winding up 'on their face' so to speak! The plants in the meantime are being temporarily propped up by chipboard!

Posy

I use the semi-circular supports. I have some with very long 'legs' so that I can push them well into the ground while the growth is short, then pull them up as the stalks grow.

jayne10b

See Monty's trick with 6mm 2.5m steel rods for what Posy above suggests.  Works out at about £3/4 each.

Fairygirl

You can also get supports for peonies which have several rings, so plenty of height options.
The secret is to do supports early, as already said. If left too late, they look trussed up if you try to get one in. 

Having other sturdy planting is ideal @Helen.White70 . That's really the best way for any taller, floppier plants. 

Penny92

jayne10b said:

See Monty's trick with 6mm 2.5m steel rods for what Posy above suggests.  Works out at about £3/4 each.

That's exactly what I've done! I just didn't put them in soon enough. (Despite what Monty says, I found it quite difficult to locate mild steel rods and had to order them online.)

Penny92

K67 said:

Penny92 said:

Thanks. I've left everything too late this year!

Always the way, they just wait until your back is turned and suddenly they have grown a foot or so.

Sigh ...