3 clever ways to create peony supports—budget-friendly ideas!

Bicycle rims turned into vibrant accents in the garden

How to find suitable supports for peonies? Sanni Jukkara tried to look for budget-friendly peony supports in stores, but the ready-made options were either too short or too pricey. Then she spotted an old bicycle rim in her storage—that would make a perfect peony support!

She got more rims from an old children’s bike from her relatives. Sanni’s partner Ari Mäkelä is a metal industry entrepreneur, so welding the supports was a breeze. Ari attached 6-millimeter round rods to the rims for legs. Then he welded small bolts to the ends of the rods, drilled holes in the rims for the bolts, and secured the legs with nuts.

“We have more old bicycle frames waiting in storage to be turned into a few more supports. I love giving things a new use,” Sanni says.

The bicycle-rim peony supports have already been in use for one summer. According to Sanni, they work perfectly. The 70-centimeter metal legs can be pushed firmly into the ground, and the sturdy supports won’t budge under the weight of the peonies or in the wind.

Branches and twigs turned into natural peony supports

Jasmin’s garden is adorned with about 30 peonies. They used to grow scattered among other perennials, but last fall, Jasmin decided to set up a large and impressive peony bed.

“Previously, the peonies got support from the surrounding plants. When planning the peony bed, I already knew I’d have to think carefully about how to support them in their new location,” Jasmin says.

Jasmin wanted supports that would blend with the stone-edged bed and the natural surroundings. Ready-made, high-quality supports would have cost hundreds of euros, so Jasmin decided to make her own homemade flower supports.

“Earlier in the spring, I had made a few wreaths using birch and aspen shoots left over as waste when the landowner tidied up the edges of the fields. I started wondering if I could use my wreath-making skills and those same materials to support the peonies,” she says.

Jasmin twisted birch and aspen shoots into wreath-like rings and attached aspen branches as legs with weaving wire.

Jasmin says the supports were easy to make.

“The supports fit perfectly into my nature-inspired flower bed without standing out too much. I was thinking that similar supports could be used for other plants in need of support as well. You could even grow vines on some of them,” Jasmin ponders.

Before the peonies, tulips bloomed in the curved bed.

Flower support that brings good luck

Marke Virtanen saw a photo online of a rustic flower support made from old horseshoes. She needed supports for her berry bushes and peonies, so the idea was inspiring.

Marke got the horseshoes from her child, her grandchild, and a neighbor.

“I told my welding-savvy friend about the idea, drew a design, and brought the materials. They said these supports were easy to make.”

For legs, the supports use ribbed steel rods about 60–90 centimeters long.

Marke is an enthusiastic crafter and DIYer. “I recycle everything I can and only buy new when I have to. I make almost everything myself, and if welding is needed, I have a friend who can help,” Marke says.

Marke has made all sorts of things in her garden from reclaimed materials. To build a trellis arch, she used, among other things, hay poles and old posts from a chicken coop.