This is a great idea for staking any plants. Makes a nice little decorative touch too.

Thanks. It does look nice and it serves the purpose without the rebar look. The rebar is solid and strong - just not pretty.

Oh, those are lovely! What a nice idea! I always worry about getting impaled on stakes in the garden (heh, must have been a vampire in a former life?) and I worry about my dogs getting hurt as well. Thanks!

Thank you. Any type of pipe will do and corks (as in wine corks) can be used as well as anything that will fit inside the pipe without dropping through it.

This is such a great idea Arlene! Thanks for sharing it. I agree that it's a nice way to add a decorative touch to the garden.

Thanks, Annette. It kept me busy during the winter just thinking of what to use on top.

Great idea! Are the copper pipes you have about 3/4 inch diameter? How did you cut them?

I'll measure them tomorrow. Some are more narrow. My husband cut the pipes that required it, not me! I'll ask him what he used but he's asleep now.

Some had been used as pea or cucumber trellises so they didn't need much work.

What's really nice about the copper too is that it will last a lifetime, no rust, no rot AND they will all eventually age to a beautiful green patina. It doesn't get any better than that!

What a great idea I love the way they look. Definitly going to try this one

And you can often get cabinetry knobs cheap at yard sales etc. I too like this idea.

Love this article/tip! I don't grow Dahlias but I love, love, love the copper stakes with decorative knobs!

Thanks to all! Just don't buy pointed knobs! They could do more damage than the stakes.

Yep, I bet you are right, Arlene.

Diane - I got one answer! The pipes are mostly 3/4" but a few are 1/2". He can't remember the name of the tool that he used for cutting the copper. He has more of them to do tomorrow. Maybe he'll recall the name when he's using the tool or else I'll just take a photo of it.

Debra - I did see some very pretty pointed ones but resisted the urge to buy them.

Wine stoppers were the ideal answer to decorate this "fence" that once was our asparagus fence but then I moved them to a bigger plot along with new asparagus. Beware! They faded and lost all color.

You are a smart woman, Arlene.

Arlene - thanks for the info. Is probably a tube
Cutter that he used.

Hopefully copper thieves don't catch wind of this hint.

He said it's in a cabinet in the garage but can't get to it due to the crowded floor with all kinds of lawn supplies! If it rains tomorrow I'll work on the garage and see if we can locate it. If not, he said he'll buy another one on Tuesday.

We have never had that problem out here, not with churches or house gutters and leaders, nor AC units. We are "remote" in the nicest way!

Dianne - this is the tool and it is a tubing cutter, as you said: http://www.northerntool.com/sh...

Here he is, hard at work, cutting enough for many more dahlias!

Thank you for posting the link, Arlene.