It works well for thin-stemmed plants, such as asters, whose foliage is not dense enough to hide a metal grid. When the plant is young, encircle it with a cylinder of chicken wire. It should be slightly narrower than the plant's mature width and lower than its full grown height. Stabilize the wire by weaving 2 or 3 bamboo stakes through the openings and securing them in the ground. New growth will thread its way through the mesh and cover the wire.
Plants retain their natural profile without flopping on their neighbors.
Peony hoops or grow through supports are two circles of wire divided into sections. Each has 3 legs. They are most effective when placed over the plant early in the spring as the leaves are beginning to unfurl. Set the hoop about half the height of the mature plant or slightly lower. This allows the plant to assume its natural spreading shape without going too far.