The only way to know for sure would be by talking to the plants and that's tough. It is probably a combination of factors... the roots have developed well enough to support these growth spurts, the soil provided minersls to the plants and you & the weather supplied the necessary sunlight and water.

I prefer to put small green wire fences around Anna in the winter, so I can see where the stems and branches are. With all the leaves around, it is more difficult now. But you can do it now anyway and tweak things later on if necessary. The fences around Anna will become almost invisible once the plants leaf out in the Spring.

Hi lyban, I have many Anna's & Incrediballs this year we have had so much Rain that staking or caging can't handle the weight of the blooms .. Even my ES are on the ground .. My hys trees are flopping

Thank you both for your replies. i guess the weather is the culprit this year then and I will follow the advice of the small green fence next year.

If i prune it not so closely to the ground this winter to maybe 24 inches from ground instead of 12 inches will I get thicker stems or am I reading the pruning advice wrong.

String is the quickest way. Buy a 5' fence stake, pound it in the ground behind the plant with a sledge hammer, then do an inner and outer lasso. You can also lasso to a fence or structure if one exists.