Hi folks.
I've been meaning to get peony hoops for the last three springs, but other tasks and purchases have
elbowed their way to the priority surface.

This year, I'm going to finally set up peony hoops so that these beauties don't loll about and get beaten
down by rain, etc.

Is there a reliable supplier of these fussy gadgets? Is there someone who is not going to charge
the earth for these simple wire contraptions?

Advice?
Thanks, David

Hi David,
I bought some of those three ring peony supports that have hooks to close the rings. They are already rusted, and I have had to use wire to keep them closed. I do not recommend these.

I buy the large heavy duty tomato cages and use bolt cutters to cut them in two. On a couple of tall Peonies I use an entire tomato cage!

I agree with LG. I too use tomato cages and cut them in two like LG. If there is a Tractor Supply store near you, they do sell large heavy duty tomato cages painted in green for $5.99. If you cut them in two, you will get two cages at $3 each and much cheaper and studier than the peony cages they sell in the garden stores.

I bought the peony hoops from Lee Valley online. Yes, very expensive, but heck for strength. I have had them in the garden summer and winter for four years and they are like new. The largest ones are about $30 plus postage. As I say not cheap but they only have one very heavy duty post so it is easy to clean around the crown of the peony. I don't have the wonderful pine needles to discourage weeds so they are a very real problem. Chickweed here forms heavy mats. I have to be able to get to the plants. I also have tomato cages and they work well. I don't have as many plants as many here, maybe 50, so in time I will have hoops for them all.

Lowes has the regular peony supports for ~$4 each. I have 10 of these, the problem is that they on have 3 verticle wires, so it is not as good as supports with 4. Also note that you usually have to order these supports online for in store pickup, they do not normally stock them.

for this reason, I buy Lowes 54" tomato cages (~$5) and cut them in half. I use the top half for peonies and the lower half for other smaller perennials. As noted, you will need bolt cutters for this operation...

The top ring is about 2" smaller in diameter than the standard peony cage, but it is a heavier gage wire.

Oh yes, if you buy 10 of the 54" cages at Lowes, you get the contractors discount:)