I would like to know some things that I could do to hold my Anna Belle up while blooming. The first rain and it is almost all on the ground. Anna Belle Hydrangea ( photo / image / picture from flower1lady2000's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from flower1lady2000's Garden )
I bought wire stakes that interlock from the garden center. There are many different types and sizes with different loops or hooks. If you have someone who can cut and bend rebar that would make a terrific tool. I have also used connected wire panel tomato cages, wire fencing and connected wire coat hangers. Do a google search for "plant supports" and look in images. This will give you some creative ideas or at least know what to look for based on your needs.
I use rerod cut to size. It doesn't look so nice in the Winter but I don't care. The first picture is my Oak Leaf Hydranga with stakes and the second picture is something else showing the stakes. So as the season moves along you don't see the rerod. I use this because I don't want to mess with stakes every year with all the rocks we have in this ground. I will suffer with the stakes showing all Winter. They work very well.
With my Pennie Mae hydrangea, I leave the old branches from the previous year for support. They do look unsightly until the new foliage covers them up, but they help with support. This does not work when we have a mild winter as the "old branches" don't die: they re-sprout!
Cayuga Morning; Most of my hydrangea's bloom on the old growth but the Anna Belle doesn't so that might help. Thanks
