As a tall hollyhock, my existence is a glorious race towards the sun. My sturdy, singular stem, known botanically as a raceme, is programmed for vertical growth to elevate my beautiful, large flowers high above the foliage, making me a beacon for pollinators. However, this magnificent height, combined with the weight of my blooms and the force of wind and rain, creates a significant structural challenge. My stem, while strong, is not always equipped to handle these lateral forces alone. Staking is not a sign of your failure as a gardener, but rather a supportive partnership that allows me to thrive and display my flowers to their fullest potential without the tragedy of a broken stem.
From my perspective, the best time for you to provide support is early in my growth cycle. Ideally, install the stake when I am approximately 12-18 inches tall. At this juvenile stage, my root system is still developing and expanding, and inserting a stake into the soil nearby minimizes the risk of damaging my delicate, fibrous roots. Furthermore, my stem is still pliable and can grow naturally alongside the support structure. If you wait until I am mature and beginning to bud, my stem may have already developed a slight lean, and my roots will be more extensive, increasing the chance of damage during stake insertion. Early staking allows for guided, natural growth.
Please select a stake that is sturdy and approximately two-thirds of my projected mature height. A wooden, bamboo, or metal stake that is 5 to 6 feet tall is usually sufficient. Push the stake firmly into the soil, about 4-6 inches away from my main stem. This distance is crucial; it is far enough to avoid damaging my root crown but close enough to provide effective support. Drive the stake deep enough into the ground so it feels secure and will not wobble under pressure, as an unstable stake is of little use to me when a summer storm arrives.
How you attach me to the stake is critically important. Do not use wire, string, or any material that can cut into or constrict my stem as I grow and swell in girth. Instead, use soft, flexible ties such as gardener's twine, strips of cloth, or commercial plant ties. Employ a loose figure-eight pattern: loop the tie around the stake, then cross it between the stake and my stem before looping it around me. This creates a cushion of space between me and the stake, preventing abrasion and allowing for natural movement and growth. Secure the tie to the stake, not to me, with a slip knot or bow that can be easily loosened later. Add additional ties at intervals of 12-18 inches as I continue to grow skyward.
If a single stake feels too obtrusive, there are other methods that I find equally supportive. A popular technique is to surround a group of us hollyhocks with several stakes and then wrap jute twine or garden netting around the perimeter, creating a supportive corral. This allows us to support each other slightly while the external structure catches any of us that begin to lean. It is a less rigid system that still provides excellent defense against the wind, and it often looks more natural in a cottage garden setting than individual staking.
