I use the green metal stakes with the loop on top. Don't have much of a problem with the Irises escaping them. They sell them at Walmart and Lowes, etc. -- they cost a dollar apiece, which I don't think is expensive at all. Over the years I have collected quite a few. Oh -- and they come in two different lengths (height) -- so you can tailor their use to whichever works best for each Iris.