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How to tie in your plants

in Home : Projects: Pruning and training

You will need

  • Soft string, garden twine, plastic-coated wire or proprietary plant ties
  • Scissors, flower snips or sharp knife
Do it: April - June
Takes just: 5 minutes per plant, as needed in the growing season

Project categories

Overview

Tying in climbers, tall perennials and trained shrubs and fruit bushes needs to be done when the stems are soft and pliable. When shoots are growing quickly in spring and summer, they may have to be tied in to their support once a week. Take care not to bruise or damage stems by tying too tightly.

How to do it

Tying soft shoot into training wire

1For trained fruit and wall shrubs, tie in the new growth when it has reached 10cm - 15cm in length. This will hold the shoot in place until the wood develops to stiffen it.

Knotting string to hold shoot to support

2When using string or garden twine, wind it once or twice tightly around the support and knot in place. Then wrap it more loosely around the stem and knot it twice to secure in place.

Tying climber to trellis with soft string

3Climbing plants often need coaxing to grow up their supports or in the required direction. Loosely tie them in place with soft string so as not to bruise their very delicate stems.

Adam's tip

Recycle old cotton t-shirts by cutting them into narrow strips to use as plant ties.

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Talkback: How to tie in your plants
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myself 24/11/2011 at 15:28

Found this very useful and knowledgeable for a beginner to gardening

BLUES4U 24/11/2011 at 15:29

I am definately going to have a go at making a bamboo trellis. It looked quite simple but effective