How to Support Climbing and Bushy Plants on Your Allotment

Supporting plants isn’t just about keeping them upright—it helps them thrive by improving airflow, reducing disease, and making harvesting easier. Choosing the right support for each plant is key to healthy growth and a successful allotment.

Supporting plants is more than just keeping them upright—it’s about giving them the structure they need to thrive. Whether you're growing tomatoes, runner beans, or sweet peas, good plant support helps improve airflow, reduce disease, and make harvesting a breeze.

But with so many options—from rustic hazel wigwams to sleek metal frames—how do you choose the right one for your allotment? Let’s dig into the traditional, the modern, and the materials you can use to keep your crops standing tall.

Why Do Plants Need Support?

Many plants naturally climb or sprawl, and without support, they can become damaged, diseased, or difficult to manage. Support systems help to:

Maximise space (especially in smaller plots)
Improve air circulation and reduce disease
Make watering, weeding, and harvesting easier
Keep fruits off damp soil
Encourage better yields

Traditional Plant Supports: Rustic & Reliable

Traditional supports are timeless, sustainable, and often cost-effective.

They include:

Hazel or willow branches  – Ideal for weaving into natural wigwams and arches

Bamboo canes  – Flexible, easy to build into teepees or lattices

Wooden stakes and frames – Strong and sturdy, often made from reclaimed timber

Garden twine  – For tying and weaving in a gentle, biodegradable way

Popular Traditional Setups:

Hazel Wigwams – Perfect for sweet peas and runner beans; biodegradable and beautiful

Bamboo Teepees – Great for peas or climbing French beans

Wooden A-frames – Useful for espalier training or low-growing fruit

Circular Supports – Created by bending branches into hoops—ideal for bushy plants like peonies or low peas

Tip:
Traditional materials are eco-friendly and lend a natural look to your plot, though they often need replacing each season.

Modern Plant Supports: Strong & Structured

Modern supports are designed for strength, longevity, and convenience.

These include:

Metal frames or mesh (galvanised steel or aluminium) – Durable, ideal for heavier crops

Plastic netting and trellis – Lightweight and easy to install

Soft ties, Velcro, or clips – Gentle on stems, perfect for tomatoes and climbing plants

Circular wire supports – Great for bush tomatoes, dahlias or floribunda roses

Obelisks – Decorative and functional; perfect for climbers like clematis, sweet peas or even beans

Popular Modern Options:

Metal Obelisks– Add height and structure; ideal for decorative or edible climbers

Tomato Spirals – Self-supporting metal spirals that guide growth without tying

Plastic or Metal Netting – Quick to set up for beans, cucumbers or squashes

Circular Grow-Through Grids – Used for perennials or bushy veg to keep them from flopping over

Tip:
These materials are reusable and weather-resistant, but often less biodegradable than their traditional counterparts.

Material Comparison: What Should You Use?

Here’s a breakdown of different materials and their pros and cons:

Traditional vs. Modern: Why Not Both?

Many allotmenteers mix traditional and modern materials to suit different crops and conditions. For example:

Use hazel obelisks for sweet peas and metal spirals for tomatoes

Combine bamboo canes with plastic netting for a cost-effective pea fence

Try willow hoops for border flowers and circular metal grids for top-heavy perennials

By combining approaches, you can create a plot that’s functional, sustainable, and pleasing to the eye

Tip:
These materials are reusable and weather-resistant, but often less biodegradable than their traditional counterparts.

Final Tips for Supporting Your Plants

Choose your support based on the plant’s growth habit and weight

Make sure the structure is secure and weather-resistant

Use ties that are gentle and adjustable to avoid stem damage

Reuse and recycle materials where possible

Think about ease of access —you want to be able to pick, water and weed without a struggle

Make Your Plot Work for You

Supporting your plants doesn’t have to mean sticking to one method. Whether you build a rustic wigwam, install a sleek metal obelisk, or try your hand at DIY willow hoops, the goal is to keep your plants happy and your harvest healthy.

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