Very good tutorial from a professional garden...
I have subscribed to access all the courses so have watched one on interior design and this one with Butter Wakefield who specialises in small garden design. She ...
Louise Brown
Apr 10, 2026
The Art of Gardening at Sissinghurst
How to stake irises
with TROY SCOTT SMITH — Head Gardener at Sissinghurst. Garden Writer, Speaker & Lecturer.
Lesson 32 of 56
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One simple task done ahead of time in April helps to ensure these seasonal stars look their best. Troy shows you his trick for staking that doesn’t detract from the flowers.
From the Lesson Workbook
How to Stake Irises
Bearded irises are stars of the May garden, but the flowers are so large that the stem can snap in wind and rain. In mid-April, stake tall varieties with a single stick to support the flower stem.
- Push the stick in behind the flowering stem, a few inches into the ground.
- Use a paper-covered wire twist tie to secure the stem to the stick. You can position it behind a leaf to make it less obvious.
- Irises emerge at different times, so check every week or so for any tall enough to stake.
One simple task done ahead of time in April helps to ensure these seasonal stars look their best and avoid any mishaps in the spring showers. It's worth doing in a thoughtful way so as not to detract from the flowers.
Plant Directory
Aconitum species and cultivars
Aconites, monk's hoods
Hardy herbaceous perennials or biennials
Ranunculaceae
Iris germanica species and cultivars
Bearded irises
Hardy herbaceous perennials from rhizomes
Iridaceae
Iris 'Shannopin'
Tall bearded iris 'Shannopin'
Hardy herbaceous perennials from rhizomes
Iridaceae
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Very good tutorial from a professional garden designer
I have subscribed to access all the courses so have watched one on interior design and this one with Butter Wakefield who specialises in small garden design. She has a lovely personality and comes across as ...
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Time spent well
I love CreateAcademy. I came in for the gardening and floristry courses, but am also watching an interior design one at present. And the photography course is an absolute must, best I've ever done.
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What a great investment
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Your Instructor
Troy Scott Smith
Head Gardener at Sissinghurst. Garden Writer, Speaker & Lecturer.
Troy Scott-Smith, previously head gardener of Iford Manor and Bodnant garden, now oversees the cherished grounds of Sissinghurst - one of the most famous gardens in England and is designated Grade I on Historic England's register of historic parks and gardens. Coming from a family of committed naturalists, Troy is a seasoned horticulturist, writer, designer and consultant, Troy is also a respected member of the RHS Floral Committee. When he set his sights on the head gardener role, he did so with refreshing candour, speaking passionately of the garden’s need for thoughtful evolution. It is a mark of the National Trust’s forward-thinking spirit that they embraced his vision, inviting him to guide this historic landscape into a compelling new chapter.
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