The flower support is a decorative and at the same time practical detail in the garden. It helps to create the desired landscapes by giving plants various forms. To get the desired effect, you need to choose the right base for each flower.
Types of supports for flowers
All supports can be divided into two types:
- Decorative are aesthetically pleasing designs. They look good even without flowers, which is especially true in the cold season, when plants shed their leaves. These include pergolas, nets, arches, screens, various turrets and sculptures, garden screens.
- Technical - those that only support plants, but do not decorate them. It can be wire, mesh.
This division is very conditional. Lately, even the technical support for a flower looks like a decorative ornament.
Requirements for flower supports
Plants will please the eye for a long time if the supports for them are made in accordance with all requirements. There are few of them, but they must be taken into account.
The most important thing is that the support for the flower must be strong and reliable. It must support the weight of the plant. Designs should allow the plant to be positioned completely and evenly.
Choice of supports for indoor plants
In addition to climbers, large plants with large leaves or flowers also need support. Plastic bases (or metal-plastic bases) are perfect for them.
Bamboo sticks tied with twine or moss will look good among the leaves. Such supports come in different diameters and heights, which allows you to choose them for the size of each flowerpot. For sprawling plants along the contour, you can arrange several of these sticks, intertwined with a rope.
Climbing flower garden supports
Separately it is worth mentioning curly flowers. They create a special mood, make the yard more comfortable. Supports selected for these plants will help enhance this effect. They give flowers a certain shape, support, correct growth.
To complete the task, both natural supports for flowers (trees, stones, branches of nearby shrubs) and artificial (made by man) are suitable. Depending on the main goal, there are three types:
- for solitary plants that hold a single planting. Have the form of a frame or lattice, made of metal or wood;
- small architectural forms. These include various kinds of pergolas, gazebos, awnings;
- the basis of vertically growing climbing flowers. Thisthe support for the flower serves as a guide along which the plant winds up. It can be ropes, cords, nets.
The base is selected for each type of plant separately. Plants that grow up along the guide (hops, honeysuckle, lemongrass) are suitable for rope trellises, thin twigs, racks, nets.
Leaning creepers (a bright representative is a climbing rose) prefer trellises with large cells or wire stretched in a horizontal position. This type of plants must be tied to the base so that they do not break off and fall to the ground.
Root-climbing vine (Parthenocissus, hydrangea, ivy) feels great on any surface. It is important that the base is slightly rough so that the antennae can cling to it.
Leaf climbers and vine-bearing creepers (cucumbers, asparagus beans, princes, clematis) prefer bases with a large area: trellises, lattices, nets. At the same time, there must be space between the plant and the support, which leaves the plant free to grow.
Climbing potflower supports
A feature of climbing plants growing at home is a thin and fragile stem. Supports for indoor flowers should not only support the plant, help it grow in the right direction, but also give it a beautiful shape.
Small arches (up to 60 cm) made of plastic, metal or wood look good. By tying the stems down, we help new flowers to appear.
Hung on the wallthe lattice will make the plant not reach up, but grow in width. At the same time, more light enters the flowerpot, and it grows better.
Making your own supports
The bases of various types for plants can be bought in specialized stores. But many gardeners make their own flower supports. They are made from different materials and completely different shapes and sizes.
The most common flower support is planed board trellis. It should be remembered that the base will be located on the street and exposed to natural factors. To protect the wood, the trellis must be carefully painted over (it is better to paint each detail separately). A rectangular frame is assembled from boards, on which slats are stuffed. The appearance of the plant will depend on the location of the rails.
In many cases, the support for flowers (see photo below) has the shape of a cone. This is most relevant for climbing plants. A rectangle is marked in the necessary place, in the corners of which wooden bars are installed. Between them bars of smaller height are added. It all comes together at the top.
Another way how a support for a flower can be made is to stretch a mesh over the frame. The frame can be made of wood or metal. The design is covered with a protective varnish / paint. The finished frame is attached to the posts installed next to the plant.
For low plants, you can use willow twigs. They are long, strong and easy to bend, allowing you to give the desired shape.
When choosing the type of support, you must remember that the structures must be combined with each other. This will give the site unity and make it unique.
