How do I stop plants from flopping over

[LittleSnakes]

Every year my perennials grow up. And then one day, maybe some rain, they all just flop over and look shit. They go all bedraggled and sad. I do have some little bamboo arches to put next to them to hold them up but then they sag over those too. Is there any way to get my bed to look lush and full and not floppy and sad? Every year I think my tiny flower bed will look nice and every year it looks shit.

What plants are they and can you post some photos? Some plants like hellebores actually collapse with frost but soon revive when it thaws.

If they haven't grown too far, a system of these might work. I have them for my very top heavy peonies and they work well.

FOCHIER 3Pack Grow Through Grid Grow Through Plant Support Grow Through Hoops Iron Round Plant Support Stakes with 20PC Plant Ties for Orchid Lily Peony Rose Flower Stem https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09LM311QD/ref=cmswwrcppapiiiDBSKG3WEZ4XX387QH0GZ?encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Are they all the kind that die back over winter? Could you intersperse them with some that don’t so have a stronger frame?

Use something like this

Well, it normally happens later in the year in summer. I’m just trying to prepare now. I’ve got penstemons, an orange wallflower, some summer drummer bulbs which didn’t even flower last year. First year was great but second year they just flopped over. My fuschia was ok. Gladioli flowered and flopped over too.

Ok, those supports look way better than my bamboo arches already. That’s a good idea about having some more sturdy plants in between to hold them up too. It’s all the soft juicy ones that flop over. And just seem to grow sideways along the ground.

Also a Chelsea chop... Cut them down in late spring/ early summer.

Give them the Chelsea chop, basically chop them back in June, it makes them bush out and get less leggy. Gladiolis though often fall down, I just chop them and put them in a vase.

@LittleSnakes

Ok, those supports look way better than my bamboo arches already. That’s a good idea about having some more sturdy plants in between to hold them up too. It’s all the soft juicy ones that flop over. And just seem to grow sideways along the ground.

bamboo cane or sticks, but with small cable ties, to hold the plant on the cane

Potentially chose plants with a good flowering period which are either dwarf varieties or low growing, then use more woody shrub type planting for height.
For example, I only play miniature daffodils.

I think I’d heard of a Chelsea chop but had forgotten about it. I’ll give that a go to get them more bushy.

How much do you usually chop back? And doesn’t it cut all the flowers off?

I chop back half of the stems by about half - leaves some flowers to give the interest while the other bits grow back.

You need some plant support hoops, like these:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8Pcs-Strong-Half-Round-Metal-Garden-Plant-Stake-Supports-Planter-Hoop-21-35cm-/165057652312?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

I'm not recommending these, they're just the first I found on eBay. You can get them individually or to link together, all heights and widths. They can be pricey but once bought they last forever. Put them in now so the plants grow up around them.

Gladioli often flop. I bought these last year which I really do recommend, they're brilliant and look pretty too:

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/699408578/half-spiral-plant-support

And yes, Chelsea chop the perennials - you lose the flowers but they come back within a few weeks.

I use a combination of these:

smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B079SLKZPJ?ref=ppxpt2mobbprod_image

And the ones that @ElizabethinherGermanGarden posted a link to above, depending on the size of the plant.

Ok, I’m gonna do a Chelsea chop this year! And buy some supports. Thanks everyone.

I saw a lovely method with rudbeckia a few years back : rather than using hoops, they had put a sturdy stake in the middle, shorter than the flowers heads, and then tied the stems together into a bunch. Looked fabulous amongst the other planting.

The secret is to get your hoops and stakes in early, before they start to sprawl. I am rubbish at it.

Home Bargains have these supports. I think they are about 80 pence each, so quite affordable if you need a few.

Ooh those home bargains ones look great. Much cheaper. I actually did have rudbeckia last year too and that went flopped as fuck. The annoying this is, that once they flopped over they start to grow upwards from there. So then they have a huge bend in the stems so eve if I do make them go upright, they have a big bend in them. You’re right I need to do it before it all grows up.

Those Home Bargain ones look extremely flimsy and probably won’t support a large floppy plant. Look for sturdy steel ones, like Monty Don uses on Gardeners World. They can be a bit pricey but they’ll do the job and last forever.

I think the HB ones look a waste of money.

If cash it tight, you can improvise with sticks and string. This is the cage we made to keep our buddleja off the ground.

I find the best things to buy are the straightforward curves with no linky bits, as plants are great at pushing them apart.

You can also make your own from mild steel rods from the builders yard, my oh keeps promising to try this.

Ok, I don’t want to buy ones that break. I’ll look for something better.

Hmm, sunlight is a good thought. It south facing but there are buildings around. So maybe some of the plants aren’t best suited. I’m quite a beginner gardener. My garden is tiny so I don’t get much space to experiment with. I also have a salvia hot lips and I’m hoping that might do better.