� Basically any vertical structure with holes or spaces will work, such as lattices, a metal mesh, a fence with bars or even just a piece of wire held in place with nails and arranged in whatever shape suits you. These will allow your climbing plant to cover a wall with green.�

But it is not just climbing plants that need help. There are many such helpers and plants that need them at some point in the life, albeit for different reasons.�

First there are the supports needed by newly planted trees to keep the wind from swaying them and impeding them from setting down roots. The supports can be sticks, canes or metal rods. It does not matter, so long as they are strong and straight. The support should be stuck firmly in the ground, penetrating 40 to 50 centimeters and far enough from the trunk of the tree to be sure you don't poke its root ball. Then tie the trunk to the support in several spots. But at these spots always protect the trunk with a piece of cardboard, plastic or strong fabric so that the string does not hurt the trunk. Check every now and then to make sure the rope is not choking the tree as it expands. And, unless there are very strong winds, you can remove the ropes when the tree has set down roots definitively, a couple of years after planting.

Some bushes are particularly apt for trimming in creative shapes. This takes a good eye and a lot of patience. But you can also use metal supports that have the shape you want. All you have to do is trim the tips that stick out of the structure. You can find these in gardening supply stores, sometimes with the grown plant included.

There are perennials, seasonal flowers, bulbs and even flowering bushes that have trouble with their large flowers, especially if they are in the shape of a spike, scape or flower head. Because of their weight, they can drop down until they nearly touch the ground, hurting themselves and making the whole plant look unattractive. To avert this there are metal or wooden rods with circular or V-shaped tips. They let you hold large flowers up straight, such as gladiolas, lupins, dahlias and some kings of hydrangeas, or any other kind of plant that needs help to keep its flowers from drooping.

Finally, there are many indoor plants such as pothos or monstera which have roots that stick up in the air. They like to have support from moss. Besides adherence so the plant can grow or stay erect, the moss provides a place for the rotos to dig in and helps the plant grow fuller. This kind of support should be moistened periodically.