The principles of plant ties
Check all plant ties regularly, at least once a month. Retie if they work loose or break, and loosen if they threaten to cut into the stem.
Think about the job you are tackling and choose an appropriate tie: is it a short-term or long-term tie? Will the tie show? Could the tie damage the stem? Consider the environmental impact of the material you choose, remembering that plastic, rubber and Velcro ties are reusable many times over.
Tie anything tight around plant stems.
Knot twine tight onto the support, then loosely around soft the plant. Bend ties around plant stems but don’t twist.
Use plain or plastic-coated wire as a tie except where it offers room for stems to grow, such
(and as plant rings these only on woody stems like roses).
Use jute garden twine for every tying job. It’s cheap, works in many cases and looks better than plastic, but it will soon rot. 1
Soft ties for use on woody stems have a rubber or ‘pipe-cleaner’ coating. Bend both ends around the plant stem, but don’t twist the ends together. 2
Plastic and rubber figure-ofeight ties are strong and long lasting, and can be used in a wide range of applications, from tying-in climbers to staking trees. 3
Velcro plastic and fabric ties offer a broad band of support less likely to cut into delicate plant stems. Just cut to length and wrap around the stem and support. 4
Plastic string (right) lasts a long time and doesn’t shrink, and is adaptable like jute garden twine (left), but jute wins for its natural looks in a garden setting.