elegant and cost effective way to support dahlias

Newb

Share some good looking and cost effective way to support dahlias. A lot of them in my front garden so not much hidden by other plants in border.

Last year i tied them to green painted canes, but newbie mistake and lots of them had stems cut up as i didnt loosen the garden ties over time. Only realized when it was too late

Also the main stem was ok but side shoots kept flopping and breaking in wind and rain. 

I saw some lovely peony supports for £20 or so each. But I have 12 new dahlias and I am hoping my 20 or so dahlias from last year will come back too. Cant afford so many and those supports seems to be not tall enough. 

What do you use for supporting dahlias and where do you buy supports from?

Newb

Thank Lantana. Where do i get flexible ties? 

Has anyone tried those grow through rings or three ring supports. Something like these in links below? I wonder if big dahlia leaves will go though that mesh and will i be able to poke those three spikes in the hard clay deep enough to make it stable.

http://www.gapgardenproducts.com/simple-mesh-ring.html

http://www.gapgardenproducts.com/30-inch-conical-support-pack-4.html

Yviestevie

I use grow through rings and they work fine.  You do need to get the right size though and also put them in place before the plants get too high.

Villaverde123

I have done exactly as in the video below and it cost me £20.00 for 20 and I used the left over ends for single supports by just bending one end quite tightly on the workmate.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p035dmd5

Last edited: 06 March 2017 10:36:42

Newb

Villaverde123, where did you get those rods from? I liked the idea. May be not for the dahlias in front garden, but will be handy for other tall plants in back garden.

Newb

Doghouse Riley,

Thanks, you garden is so neat and beautiful. 

Yviestevie,

Which size would you recommend? 

Newb

edit button didnt work. i am asking for dahlias around 100-120 cm tall.

Lyn

I bought 30 of these, in the reviews  lots of people said they used these for plant supports, Monty Don does a good demonstration online.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00E7P9SLG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

Lyn

http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-make-steel-rod-plant-supports/ 

Villaverde123

Newb says:

Villaverde123, where did you get those rods from? I liked the idea. May be not for the dahlias in front garden, but will be handy for other tall plants in back garden.

See original post

I bought them from a friends brother who works in metal  I understand you can use the rebar (Sp) rods that may be bought from builders merchants, Travis Perkins or even Scewfix.  Some are stainless steel but I prefer the rusty look.  Mostly you don't notice them. 

hogweed

I bought my rods from The Metal Store and they cut them to size. 

https://www.themetalstore.co.uk/

Last edited: 07 March 2017 19:52:41