Attractive flower cages

An inverted tomato cage becomes an attractive plant support.  Photo/Illustration: Christine Erikson

Using common tomato cages, I’ve created inexpensive and attractive supports for my flower garden. I turn the cages upside down, gather the legs together, and slide a piece of 1/2-inch-diameter copper tubing (about 1-1/2 to 2 inches long) over all three legs, leaving about 6 inches of leg sticking out. Bend each leg around a pipe to form a curl (you may need a pair of pliers to help with this), flaring each leg outward from the tube. These plant supports can be painted or left natural, and the ring that is now at the bottom can be cut to enable you to stick the cage into the ground.