normally, you shouldnt need the cane. it slows down the ability of the plant to hold itself up... the wind-stress acts like a muscle

in this case, you may need it. cant tell without being there. does it feel like if you try to bend the plant a bit without the cane ?

also, i always add woody mulch ( i like bark fines) around the base of my plants.

maybe even 8 inches of cardboard to keep the grass down and moisture in underneath the mulch.