Keep Climbing Plants In Check With This Genius Zip Tie Hack
Zip ties (sometimes called cable ties) are well-known as a useful item to have around the house. They can not only help you organize TV and computer cables but are quick fixes for many DIY projects. However, while you may already use zip ties in your home, you may not know how useful they can be in the garden. Specifically, zip ties are the perfect long-lasting and inexpensive tool to help attach your climbing plants to your trellis, fence, or garden post and keep them in check. Tying up climbing plants like green beans, bougainvilleas, trumpet flowers, and cucumbers is an essential step in helping them grow tall and get plenty of sunlight without going wild.
Zip ties are the perfect tool for this because, unlike many types of rope and chords, zip ties are long-lasting and can even be UV-resistant. This means that they won't break down after a year outside in your garden. They are also strong enough to hold heavier vines like those from climbing trees and gourds in place — and, most importantly, they are incredibly easy to use. All you have to do is wrap the zip tie around both the plant and the fence or trellis you want to attach it to and fasten it. The only thing to remember when using zip ties on your plants is to attach them loosely so as not to damage the plant and also give it plenty of space to grow.
When you may want to use soft ties instead
While zip ties are the perfect tool for sturdier and thicker plants (like bougainvilleas, climbing roses, sunflowers, raspberries, and other woody stalked plants), some delicate or quick-growing plants may not react well to zip ties as the hard plastic can cause damage. Some plants that may prefer soft and flexible garden ties include tomatoes and other tender vegetables. For these plants, you can use zip ties as a quick fix and then switch to a softer, more forgiving garden tie later on. Some gardeners recommend cut-up pantyhose or old cotton T-shirts as a quick fix in these situations because these materials are both soft and stretchy, which gives the plant room to grow and expand.
For quick-growing trees, while zip ties may still be the best choice to hold up the heavy and stubborn branches if a tie is too tight, you run the risk of the tree growing around it. While this won't kill your tree, it will injure it and make it more susceptible to diseases and pests. Therefore, while using zip ties on trees may still be the best choice, you will want to check on the ties every month or so to make sure they aren't too tight.
Other uses for zip ties in the garden
The best thing about buying zip ties for your garden is that they are very versatile, and purchasing one pack can help you solve multiple garden issues. For example, you can use zip ties to hold up or patch your garden wire fence and protect your precious vegetables from rabbits and rodents. You can also use them to tie down the covers of your outdoor garden furniture before a storm or heavy winds. You can even use zip ties to hang flower pots, garden ornaments, and bird feeders.
To make your garden space extra inviting and comfortable, you can also zip ties to hang up outdoor string lights (whether you are hanging them from your house or in a tree). To make sure that the zip ties don't stand out too much, you can purchase them in green, brown, or any other color that you think will best blend into your outdoor space. Then, after you attach the tie, simply cut off the protruding end to make it look neat, and no one will even know it's a zip tie without closer inspection.