Soon it will be time to stake tall perennials, Marie Iannotti reminds us. About's Gardening Guide notes, "Staking in spring means you will have a few weeks of visible, sometimes ugly stakes in the border, but it will save many headaches throughout the rest of the growing season." Marie's article mentions some alternatives to "ugly stakes" that you can begin gathering together now, as well as informing us on the details of how to stake tall perennials, such as peonies (see picture).

_{Photo ©2006 David Beaulieu (licensed to About, Inc.)}