what are Y stakes.. and what are they used for???

https://www.gardeners.com/buy/y-stakes-flower-supports/14152.html

I use these for many things in the garden. propping up stuff, staking, etc. I have found a set of 5 for $80 on one site. That is asking way too much $. As I said, never found these hard to get before so strange.

I think I saw similar products at Ocean State Job Lot. Not quite the same but close

Ken, Google is your friend :-) They are used to support plants.

4 footers are hard to find. And not cheap!! Here's one source: Y stakes

Kali, just looked at the site. No Y stakes. Thanks for trying.

Yes, gardengal48, this was the only site I could find

other than Harrods. Cheaper to order from UK! oh well, maybe I will wait until next growing season and see if they are more available. I like to order in the fall or winter so that I have what I need when the time comes.

Thanks for helping.

Would half round supports work for you? They seem to be a lot easier to locate. But difficult to find in a 4' height.......40" seems to be the tallest I could locate.

Make your own. It sounds like a decent winter project, and not too hard. I'd start with something like this plant stake, then make the Y's out of whatever gauge coated wire takes your fancy. You could probably skip the purchasing step if you were willing to start with coat hangers, but I've always found coat hanger wire too stiff to work with at all easily.

lol gal ... i did search the term.. and couldnt figure out what straight stakes would be used for.. i see now... you bend them the way you want ...

i was wondering if there was another term that might be used ....

i hate to say it.. but back in the day.. i just got rid of foo foo plants that were so inherently weak.. they they couldnt hold their own whompin heads upright ... i also realized.. that many plants that are fert'd... can end up doing this ... and if you dont fert ... perhaps they dont need the support ....

and now i have a barn full of stakes i rarely use ... lol ...

what plant is so rare and necessary.. that you cant find a better replacement ... eh

ken

Ken, there are many, many reasons why one would want to stake a plant. And just because a plant may require staking does not necessarily mean it is weak or should be removed from the garden!! I routinely stake my lilies simply because they grow so tall and then begin to lean once the flowers buds form and develop. Ditto with peonies when I grew them - the flowers are so large and full that they collect water from rain or irrigation and will hang down if not supported.

Just because you cannot be bothered wth these simple maintenance issues doesn't meany everyone else shares your viewpoint and is rushing out to remove plants they like but that don't fit your requirements!!

http://gardenworksusa.com/y-stakes-set-of-2/

It seems like a better buy would be 4' X 3/8 rebar @ $3.31 ea. A saw, drill, and a 2X4 you could make quite a few support stakes.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Steel-Rebar-Common-0-375-in-Actual-0-375-in/3010010

To add to mad gallica’s suggestion, I’ve used bonsai training wire in the past to make my own topiary forms for ivy. Can’t remember what gauge it was. Similar copper or aluminum wire would be flexible and wouldn’t rust, and could be used with bamboo or other stakes.

cercis47- How picky r u? If u answer 1/2arse, get 2 small wires(u pick the thickness(go to a metal supply store for more pick) 48" long(or whatever u want), some small wire to twist around(aluminum picture wire???) and hold them together near the top where they split. Wrap the wire around a few times then over the top between the 2 steel rods (this will hold this piece from sliding down) .

Get black shrink tube from frys to heat shrink to hold everything from the small wire near the top down, and bend the 2 at the top how u want. How is that for a cheap fix?

after elections... i volunteer my services to clean up all the political signs with the nice heavy gauge wire. They make good plant stakes of any sizes... overlap them a bit and make yourself a nice fence to keep you kid out of the gardens in the winter... etc

@GG: Think you overreacted a bit there, my dear. I didn't find Ken's comment snide at all. Just a statement regarding plant preference.

@the OP: I would agree with the others ... Consider trying to make your own. May take a little tinkering but be far cheaper in the long run.

up up , cercis47 apparently posted a dual forum thread . Apparently the green thumbers need resolution from us mechanically inclined ! lol. As you have advised cold rolled mildsteel wire would be a very economical solution . More specific a 100 ' roll of 10 or 12 guage galvanized steel wire can be purchased for $12-$15 . Ystakes galore ! Probably time for us to begin posting Lawn tractor Head Bolt torque spec,s and transmission Hypoid Oil spec,s in the Lawn and Garden Forums lmao .

Wow, thank you for all the creative ideas. Who knew?

I am short on time now so will bookmark. Wish I had picked up more when they were available for a reasonable price.

We do too! My hubby saves them all but sometimes they are too big or too intrusive for what I need. Most times we like using what we have (especially after travelling and seeing how other folks solve problems with what they have - pretty eyeopening).