Supporting peonies with hazel benders

Essential Spring Jobs

Now we're going to look at another method of staking using hazel, but this time, using flexible sticks to create domed supports for plants such as peonies to grow through.

We use hazel benders to create a lattice-like cage over peony plants. While branched hazel 'pea sticks' are ideal for staking herbaceous plants, long, unbranched, supple hazel rods are ideal for making benders for supporting peonies. The ends of the hazel go into the ground outside the extent of the roots, which avoids damaging the tubers.

The Process

Consider the eventual height of the peony when planning the height of your cage and length of sticks - make it about two-thirds of the peony's ultimate height. You can do this as soon as you know where the peony is coming up, to save time later. Four or five sticks is usually enough.

1. Push the ends in either side of the peony and repeat crossways. Put the thicker ends in next to thinner ends of the neighbouring stick.
2. Aim for a fairly even frame with spaces for the peony to grow through.
3. If needed, you can hold benders in place with a bit of string or a twist tie.
4. Stems outside the dome can be gently tied in with a bit of string.

Plant Directory

Corylus avellana

Hazel

Hardy, deciduous, large shrub or small multistemmed tree

Betulaceae

Paeonia species and cultivars

Peonies

Hardy herbaceous perennials or deciduous subshrubs

Paeoniaceae