With their generous blooms and exuberant foliage, asters are the quintessential stars of late summer! There are countless varieties, some like the Aster novae-angliae ‘Violetta’ can grow over 1 metre tall. They form imposing, bushy clumps that tend to flop under the weight of their flowers. Staking is essential to keep these tall asters with their slender, flexible stems upright! The goal: support the clumps to prevent them from collapsing in wind and rain.

Discover how to stake your plants step by step, the ideal time for staking, and the materials needed to succeed!

→The most beautiful range of Asters is here!

What materials are needed for successful staking?

There are several ways to stake asters and different types of stakes that can be used. Depending on the technique chosen, you will need:

A stake! But which stake?

No matter the material chosen, to support your asters, simply select stakes with a height suited to their mature size, between 1.20 and 1.50 metres tall. They will quickly be hidden under the foliage.

  • Bamboo stakes: authentic, simple and sturdy, 100% natural and biodegradable, they can be reused for at least 3-4 years.
  • Plastic-coated stakes: both durable and resilient, they support plants while blending into the foliage.
  • Rebar: used in a recycling spirit, they are nearly indestructible!
  • A wattle fence: these are pointed wooden slats (stakes), often made of chestnut, connected by wire. It's a natural and aesthetic staking solution that works well for bushy aster clumps.
  • With pruned branches from your garden: you can cut branches from climbing roses, mulberries, hazel, willow, chestnut, acacia, bamboo or tall miscanthus to create very natural-looking stakes.

→ A wide range of stakes is available on our site.

Wattle, bamboo, rebar... make attractive stakes that blend into the landscape

When to stake?

Stakes should ideally be installed at planting time—either simultaneously or just before—to avoid damaging your asters' roots. You can also wait until your plants reach about 30 to 40 cm in height. But be aware that staking early will keep clumps upright, and you won’t need to straighten them later if they’ve been battered by rain or wind. Well-supported from the start of growth, your asters can develop harmoniously, especially in windy spots.

How to stake?

A stake should be planted a few centimetres from the main stem. Don’t hesitate to drive it deep into the soil—about 30 cm—to leave at least 1.20 m above ground. It should protrude at least 1 m to properly support your tall asters. It must be firmly anchored to prevent clumps from flopping. Always use suitable ties (plastic ties, soft ties...) to attach stems to their stake, avoiding damage to the plant. Secure stems to the stake as they grow.

With 4 stakes and twine

  • Place 4 stakes at the corners to create a square around the clump (adjust according to the mature spread of your chosen variety)
  • Firmly drive the 4 stakes into the ground—use a mallet if needed
  • Connect them with twine at different heights: 40 cm, 80 cm, 120 cm and 150 cm

With individual stakes

Once your stakes are in the ground, you can simply use twine or raffia to tie your asters to them.

With branches

  • Using secateurs or loppers, select branches of sufficient thickness
  • Cut them to the same height—at least 1.80 m
  • Sharpen the ends to make planting easier
  • Drive them into the ground at least 30 cm deep
  • Arrange at least 6-7 branches around the clump
  • Use raffia or twine to tie stems to the stakes, never pulling too tight to avoid damaging the plant

Our tip: We also recommend pinching your tall asters around June, cutting stems back by a third or even half with secateurs. Don’t hesitate to try the Chelsea chop! This technique produces more compact, sturdier plants. Stems will branch out, becoming more wind- and rain-resistant, and flowering will be even more abundant! This pruning can prevent aster clumps from flopping onto their neighbours once laden with flowers and may reduce or even eliminate the need for staking.

Finally, watch our video with Stéphane’s tips for staking asters.