How to Keep Hardy Geraniums Upright

Perennial or hardy geraniums belong to a large genus of plants with species and cultivars that range from very low growing ground covers of just a few inches in height to small bushlike plants that easily reach 2 and 3 feet in height. Prized for their ruffled and varied foliage as much as their flowers, hardy geraniums can be staked easily to grow into upright forms, and some larger species and cultivars, such as Pratense and Psilostemon, are well known to need staking.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You’ll Need

• 1/4- to 1/3-inch diameter bamboo or metal stakes
• Biodegradable, soft plant ties
• Scissors

1. Cut a bamboo or metal stake that is 1/4 to 1/3 inch in diameter to size. It should be long enough to have a stable portion in the soil, typically 3 to 4 inches, but short enough to be concealed behind the geranium stem.
2. Drive the stake into the soil behind the geranium branch or stem you want to support. The stake should be 1/2 to 1 inch from that branch or stem.
3. Tie the geranium branch or stem securely but somewhat loosely to the stake. Never tie the plant tightly to the stake because that may girdle and kill the branch or snap it off; geranium stems are sometimes brittle. Place soft, biodegradable plant ties in at least two and preferably three positions along the stake to spread the support as well as the strain.
4. Snip the ends of the ties just beyond the knot that secures them. This helps to camouflage the stakes and ties and presents the plant as growing naturally.