Some Plant Ties Can Damage Climbers – Here Are the Best Types to Use Instead

Tying up is a vital part of growing many different plants, and there are different types of ties to consider. Whether you are supporting sweet peas, tomatoes, sunflowers, or clematis, you want to use the best plant ties for the job.

You can use different forms of twine or jute, soft or flexi-ties, or DIY solutions like fabric strips or hessian. Each has its own pros and cons, and their suitability should be assessed based on size, strength, sustainability, and longevity. What you definitely don’t want to use are materials that can cut through plant stems, such as wire.

A lot of thought often goes into the best plant supports, and the same is warranted for plant ties, as without them, our gardens would be more chaotic. This guide looks at some of the best plant ties on offer, DIY solutions, and those to avoid.

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The Best Plant Ties

Jute

Twine is a common material for plant ties. Twine is a term for a material made by twisting together fibers, and a roll or ball of twine can be made from natural fibres like jute or flax – most often, you see jute twine for sale as a gardening accessory.

What makes jute one of the best plant ties is that it’s natural and biodegradable. It can be used to support plants for a season and then be used to make compost (provided it is 100% natural jute).

It is a strong, flexible material for supporting top-heavy flowers, vegetables, climbers, and shrubs, and one I have often used when growing sweet peas or French beans. Jute’s soft yet strong texture means it won’t cut into stems, and the natural material blends into the plant’s foliage.

Soft Ties

An alternative to twine is flexi-ties, or soft ties. These are made from PVC, plastic, or rubber, and some have a wire center for extra strength. These plant ties are flexible and strong, holding up even top-heavy plants without the risk of slipping, strangling, or digging into the plant stems.

Flexi-ties are weather-resistant and can be used for many years, whether for long-term support to a trained tree (I used to use them for tying in wall-trained fig trees and espalier apple trees) or shrub, or removed and reused on different plants year after year.

This makes them budget-friendly plant ties, but they do need to be binned at the end of their usage. Just like with twine, you tend to get them as a roll to cut to length as needed.

Other Options

Twine and flexi-ties are the traditional types of plant ties commonly used for many years, but there are more options available for gardeners looking for something a bit different.

A really simple-to-use and reusable plant tie is a velcro one, such as these velcro plant ties at Amazon, made from 65% recycled plastic. Velcro plant ties are made from soft, gentle material; they attach to themselves and won’t scratch or damage your plants.

The simple Velcro system means gardeners don’t need to tie any knots, and, because of the way they are secured, they can easily be adjusted as the plant grows or removed at the end of the season. And they can be reused for several seasons.

Plastic loop plant ties, such as these adjustable plant ties at Walmart, go around the plant and secure by hooking one end of the tie through the other. They are a thicker material than the soft velcro ties, but are quick to adjust, reposition, or remove.

However, my experience with them has found them a bit fiddly, and they can slip during the season, so you need to keep an eye on them.

A final option to consider is plastic plant clips. They are commonly used for growing tomatoes or climbing plants, and they clip around the stem and the plant support. These are reusable, quick to install, and you don’t need to tie or knot, but they can be delicate, and cheaper versions get brittle and break easily. You can get a pack of tomato clips at Amazon.

DIY Plant Ties

If you like to reuse and recycle and opt for plastic alternatives in the garden, there are several DIY alternatives you can use. The key is to opt for soft fabric strips with some stretchiness. This can be done by using old t-shirts, fabric, tights, or stockings.

These materials are strong, soft, and stretchy – a perfect combination for plant ties. Cut them into inch-wide strips, and they can be used to support all manner of trees, shrubs, perennials, or vegetables.

They may look a bit more rustic (or messy) than other plant ties, so they may be more suited to productive vegetable gardens than manicured flower beds.

Alternative DIY plant ties you can make from repurposed household materials include using hessian or burlap (you can get a burlap roll at Walmart), and any old velcro fastening strips you may have lying around.

Plant Ties to Avoid

Poor choices of plant ties can hugely damage plants; they can strangle or snap stems. That is why you should always avoid bare wire, metal ties (without a coating), fishing line, or zip ties.

These materials can scrape away at plant material, exposing the plant’s inner parts and leaving it vulnerable to pests and diseases. In extreme circumstances, they can really dig in and even decapitate plants.

You can get large, heavy rubber or elastic ties designed for supporting trees and large shrubs. These types of ties should only be used for their intended purpose, and are too large to support climbing flowers or vegetables.

Plant supports play a crucial role in keeping tall or climbing plants upright and attractive. Top-heavy perennial plants are liable to flop under their own weight, or after rain showers, unless given some form of support.

If you like bringing a more natural touch to your flower beds, our guide to the best natural supports for tall perennials reveals how to use twigs, bamboo, hazel, or willow to provide the best backdrop for your plants.

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