Supporting growth with chestnut gates

Supporting Growth with Chestnut Gates

Annuals grow so quickly that they don't have time to develop much lignin in their cell walls.

Lignin is a plant polymer that forms rigidity in the cell walls of plants. Lignin is crucial in the development of tree bark and wood, but because of their fast growth hardy annuals hardly form any lignin in their cell walls at all, so they are much softer and more flexible.

This means that if there are strong winds blowing, it is much easier for annuals to snap or bend. While some angular stems can be quite an interesting feature in an arrangement, if all your stems are like this, your flowers can end up looking messy and confusing.

One trick I'ver found to help combat this is to use chestnut gates. Pushed into the ground along the side of a bed, these gates help to support the plants and keep them standing straight.

Staking the Ammi visnaga

Using a clove hitch knot, tie the Ammi visnaga loosely to your willow stake. This will then provide loose support, which will give the plant room to grow and move in the wind but will stop it from bending at any extreme angles.

WHERE TO SOURCE:

Chestnut gates