Tomato cages are the best thing I can think of for the garden. Sure there are other garden tools but what else can you leave out there season after season, rain, sun or even the occasional late or early snow? Tomato cages!

Of course, tomato cages aren't just for tomatoes.

In our garden tomatoes aren't even the first plant we put the tomato cages on. Anything which tends to grow tall and then fall over gets it's own cage. Not for the plants which fall over as they finish their season but those which will bloom all summer. You don't want the plant to need the tomato cage. Plants should be able to battle the wind and still stand upright (unless heavy with fruit or vegetables).

Tomato cages work great for daisies of all kinds. The flowers tend to make the plant top heavy and then you don't see them even though they can bloom all summer.

Climbing plants can grow up a tomato cage but this is best for annual climbers because you want your perennials to grow up something permanent like a garden fence, a shed, a gazebo, the wall of your house, or a trellis of whatever kind you choose.

Tomato cages can train your shrubs and bushes.

We used to rope the Rose of Sharon bushes up to the fence every year. But, over winter the ropes we used (to be fair we just used what was around, even birthday party ribbons more than once) the ropes broke and the plants tend to overlap them in between seasons as we prune branches and new branches grow out. So, we started using tomato cages while the plants were still small to a medium tall in size. Once they grew too big we went back to the usual staking them up with rope, ribbon, etc. However, the plants grew pretty straight while the cage trained them so most don't need help now. Just the occasional branch which grows too far over the driveway and might scratch the vehicles.

Just for fun... decorate your tomato cages.

Add some sparkly things, twine some ribbon through the bars and whatever other great idea you get. People use tomato cages to make Christmas trees but they are so over looked as a great, cheap and fun way to decorate your garden.

Sadly, I did not see hot pink tomato cages on Amazon. I would have loved that colour in the garden. You can find yellow, red, green, blue and Earth tone colours via Amazon.

But, don't settle for less than the colour you want. Spray paint the tomato cage any colour you choose.