Now that we're growing acres of peonies, I'm trying to figure out peony supports that are both 1) pretty and 2) can be implemented easily.

Previously, as a backyard gardener, I just used fun, unique solutions for each plant but that won't scale to our current situation.

So I'm looking for inspiration! Any great photos to share?

(current top idea is to use attractive ribbon, attached to stakes, criss-crossing the rows. Downside is break down/set up time each spring/fall!)

I still just use tomato cages (green). Works great but would be cost prohibitive on a large scale.

thank you Gary - I agree they work great and dol use them in our decorative/show beds. (show beds = less than acre total)

they are so easy - i do wish that would scale.....

If you grow them in rows, can you use twines and stakes? I saw a pic of a garden that used green metal stakes that were strategically placed 2-3ft apart and then run the green twine criss cross with each other at different heights that correspond to the notches of the metal stakes as the peonies grew. The green stakes and green twine blend really well with the peony foliage. I guess what they did was to start the twine at about 12" of growth and then do another set at 18" and another at 24". Thus the peonies are well supported from the bottom up.

This is exactly the concept I was thinking - except I was thinking of using ribbons (for aesthetics).

Except your idea is BETTER than ribbon as the twine is 1) easier to install and 2) will naturally biodegrade anyway.

Which means I don't need to take it down in the fall when i am at my busiest. (I'll just have to source a twine that has no artificial dyes etc).

Bonus - I already have loads of those stakes!!

I noticed that some producers were using big rolls of bird/critter nettings - could be green or black and fixed with stakes on perimeter.

I bought twine, at either Dollar General, or Family Dollar. Since they are both at the same shopping center, I can't recall which. Unless of course, the twine was a Dollar Tree. Guess it must have been inexpensive at least, with "Dollar" being the word in common!

Here's Martha Stewart's method.

https://www.themarthablog.com/...

Wonder where we can get these stakes? THey may work for individual peonies too.

Lynn, I previously found Martha's method but stopped reading after she said she personally desiged those stakes. I took that to mean they are not commercially available.

I should have continued reading as then I would have seen the twine idea - which I think will be a winner for us (simply attached to standard issue green garden stakes).

Karen - i know - i wish we could get those stakes too. Seems she designed them specially so suspect she also has a local fabricator.

Alex - Netting is a fantastic idea. Unfortunately we use our poultry flock to weed our beds. (They get rid of 90%+ of the weeds and eliminate the need to fertilize-.

However, as we move our flock through the pasture we do opportunistically use our temporary fence to support nearby peonies. And it works incredibly well.

ShawnSteve, Great tip on the dollar store(s). I typically use the hardware store but will look for better deals at the dollar stores!!

Here's one that should work for you, Karen!
https://www.marthastewart.com/...

Glad you liked the inexpensive choice. No need for "designer" hoops, but there are some , made just for that... A hoop on a wire stake.
But, I am wondering why the problem of leaning, occurs in the first place? Too crowded closely togather? Too much nitrogen? Or weather, with too many cloudy days,while it is warm for too rapid rate of growth? ( You have no info, about what area you are growing, to help us figure such things out.) Like nearly everybody body else, lists at least their "zone".-.to give us a clue, for helping give better advice.

I have one spot where I have 3 peonies in a row, use bamboo stakes and twine, seems to work fairly well, easy to scale up

You can get a large spool of natural twine at Farm Supply stores. They also may have some kind of supports like Martha uses for electric fence systems for goats. I love to look around our local Farm Supply stores.

Found by Google

@lyndakerfarms What I was attempting to do, was figure out how to possibly solve what is causing the problem, in the first place. Then,, just maybe you won't require some other "remedy", if the original cause of the problem, may be solved. Unless there is
just too much shade, from trees.
Simply because, including only Central time Zone, isn't much info....as it covers an rather vast area, encompassing North to South & not a "general location ", such as at least, revealing a State, or USDA Zone , which many here, find to be very helpful with coming up with solutions.Not just in your post, but with many others, also,...

Oh, now these would be too expensive for a commercial operation, but I bought three of these from Gardeners's Supply. I will let you know what I think of them when the peonies come up.

This photo was in another person's garden.

They look nice, almost looks like they could double as a bird bath holder.

I don't think I ever needed to support any of the peonies I grew,. Not ever, in all the years of growing them.... Which I should add, leaves me to think, they are planted, where there is just too much shade.

Mieko2 said:You can get a large spool of natural twine at Farm Supply stores. They also may have some kind of supports like Martha uses for electric fence systems for goats. I love to look around our local Farm Supply stores.

Found by Google

LG, I could not find this ones.... could you please give the source for them? I have never seen this kind in town.