In message , Mark
writes
Hi - can anyone suggest a good mail-order (preferably internet) source
for heavy-duty garden stakes, wall brakets, plant supports, etc?

I have old & heavy grape vines I need to support from the walls of our
house, but I can't find anything much bigger or stronger than shelf
brackets! I believe the vine should be supported about 18-24" from
the wall, and this is a problem too.

I've not heard that before - if it was that far then free-standing
support would be easier. I would just look to have the vine - say maybe
4-6 inches away from the wall. The way to go from the beginning is to
run wires along the wall, with eyebolts/vine eyes supporting the wire
midway, and straining bolts at the end to tension wire. The end bolts
may need fixing to timbers fixed to the wall for secureness. The vine
would be trained against the wires

For an old vine you may need to get creative to support it in areas with
brackets, loops of rope etc.


I also have a line of espalier apple trees that are gradually leaning
over and veering off in all directions. To pull them staright, I need
something better than bamboo canes and the flimsy stuff you get from
garden centres.

Frees standing or trained against a wall? How are they currently
trained/ supported? They need horizontal wires run between sturdy posts
(if freestanding) To support them and to train the trees against.

If the trunkls of some are now leaning over bit the you may need to put
a stake near each one and then try gradually o pull it more upright

N A Kays are cheap for al sorts of gardening products

http://www.kayshorticulture.com/

Though for sturdy stakes etc. then treated timber form a local timber
yard/fencing supplier should do the job.
--
Chris French