Q: We have several tall perennials that flop over when they go into bloom. When we try to straighten up the iris, peony, and delphinium plants, they crack and break. How can we keep them growing straight up without having a whole bunch of poles sticking up in the yard?
A: Check with your local garden center for a horizontal fence, sometimes called a peony hoop. They usually come in circular rings of a wire grid. They have a variety of diameters and leg lengths. In the early spring, stake the legs into the ground with the grid hovering over the base of the plant. The plant stems will grow up through the grid, helping to hide it. As it gets taller, the legs can be pulled up and out of the ground, or new, longer legs can be added.
