Tools That I Use Growing Delphiniums
Tools in the garden can run the gamut of many things from a simple pair of snips to a chainsaw if one is needed. If you have read the article delphiniums here on this site, and are ready to have a go at taking care of this royal plant in your own garden you will need some tools. As a small nursery we don’t sell any tools, however that doesnt mean we can’t share what we use with you. A good set of your favorite garden tools makes a world of differance.
Lets start with a pair snips.
Snips are invaluable. From delphiniums to many other plants in the garden. I use Fiskars snips available here, they are comfortable, sharp allowing you to use them for a long period of time which is important especially if you have trouble with your hands.
Next up are pruners
Pruners you may think of needing them for roses or small shrubs, but not delphiniums. From the hundreds of delphiniums I have grown, pruners are a necessity, when it comes time to cut them down to the ground and you need to cut something that resembles a small tree.
The one that I highly recommend is Fiskars Hand Pruners available here. Not only are they sharp and comfortable, but come with a nice little safety on top as well. They make short work of those big delphinium stalks.
Would we really be growing delphiniums if we didn’t use anything to stake them with? Of course not, thats why you need good quality stakes.
With that said, I still use the bamboo canes that are still functional, but all of the bamboo canes have been gettting replaced with plastic coated steel stakes available here. They are more durable, last much much longer which means money saved, and do a much better job of holding up string or twist ties. Whether its delphiniums, dahlias, tomatoes these stakes rock.
So you have plant stakes, but how about supporting your delphiniums. Here at the nursery we have stopped using string, and now use something else.
We uses coated metal wire to create our support cages for our delphiniums, it just lasts longer, hides better and can be adjustable depening on how you put it on your stakes. You can find the coated metal wire we use available here.
We have been experimenting with securing the delphinium flower spike directly to the stake thanks to our friends in the UK and Norway who wanted us to give it a shot. I am here to tell you it works. Advice if you would like to try it is; ensure you secure the flower spike before it blooms to the support stake, also use a stake that goes as far up the flower spike as possible so you can secure the flower spike as high as possible.
To secure the flower spike use a soft plant tie available here.
Delphiniums are hungry, hungry feeders just like roses. Unlike roses however delphiniums are fed something a bit different.
The delphiniums here are fed tomato food at least twice a year. Once as the delphinium is growing the other is when the delphinium has a flower spike. Come fall don’t feed your delphinums you want them to rest for the winter.
The one we use is Jack’s Tomato food available here, if you’re looking for an organic option, a fantastic organic tomato food is available here.
We wish you the best in your gardening journey, and in growing The Queen of the Border (delphiniums), in your garden.
