Herbaceous plant supports

I am pretty cheesed off as due to the recent spell of weather which is more akin to The Amazon rain forest than here in Scotland (hot and never stops raining yuk) many of my herbaceous plants have grown enormous and fallen over. Even plants like Lupins which rarely need staking have keeled over.
1 of my least favourite jobs is staking plants with string and canes. I have never used those metal support hoop type supports I know exist, at a price!
I've decided I am going to treat myself to some but not a clue if there are good makes to go for or rubbish ones for that matter to avoid. I will need about 20 large ones so this is going to be a significant dent to the wallet and want to try with GC members help to get the best value for money supports which will last a fair number of seasons. Thanks.

 

I haven't had much luck with those which are a stick with a hoop on the end (or 3 or 4 sticks with a grid on top) - they need to go in quite deeply or they fall over themselves and they never seem to be in quite the right place to support the heavier part of the plant ie the flowers. I have found that some which are more like a cut off very open mesh cone are best (can't remember the make). I use them for bushy plants like peonies. They come in different sizes and are expensive BUT I've left mine in now for about 4 years. They remind you where the plant is too during the winter when it's died back. Will see if I can find the make/supplier.

 

Oh thank you very much. The cone ones you describe are the ones I was thinking of going for, the expensive ones...funny that! Great if you could find out the make. A great believer in word of mouth recommendations and because I intend to buy quite a few I REALLY don't want to get ones that are less than useless.

 

I use Link Stakes - I bought a large bucket of them at an outdoor auction (farm auction type, but in a grand country house's garden). I don't think anyone else knew what they were - can't remember what I paid, but it was peanuts, but looking them up on Internet just now the price is not too horrific.

http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/the-original-link-stakes-plant-supports-pid7646.html

I suspect you will only need the tallest ones (or thereabouts) as short plants don't need staking do they?

These guys in China might have a good price They sell pretty much every support-stake imaginable!
http://www.plantsupports.org/plant-support/link-stakes.html

These look unaffordable:
http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/harrod-trumpet-plant-supports-pid9244.html
!!

Blackmore and Langdon do conical supports - if that was what you had in mind. Not too too expensive
http://www.blackmore-langdon.com/product/DELPHINIUM+CONICAL+SUPPORTS

 

Yes the Blackmore-Langdon are the type I've been using. I have two different sizes and they've been out all year for a few years now, including in snow, wind etc. I didn't have much luck with the link stakes, I have two sizes but they never seemed the size I needed.

I bought mine in a local Garden Centre so no p&p.

 

Gold star as usual Kristen and thanks for your input westwales.Wow the Blackmore and Langdon ones are only a fiver.Will be on the phone to them tomorrow to find out a bit more about them and the exact size. Harrod have some interesting stuff too. Could always suggest to my beloveds I get early Christmas presents.
I don't know whether it's the same in many other parts of the country but here everything has grown to gargantuan proportions and I'm convinced I can see the grass growing. Even the sheep in the field opposite are hardly visible as they can't cope with the amount of grass while the horse ( itted male) looks as tho he is expecting triplets.