The Right Way To Tie Plants To A Trellis — Plus The Mistake New Gardeners Commonly Make

Whether you are installing a vertical garden or putting in a new trellis structure to up your gardening game, making sure your plants are attached correctly is one step you don't want to mess up. Whether you are looking to support climbing plants or those with heavy growth, in either case, the plants may need to be physically tied to the trellis to become established. But you shouldn't simply strap the stem directly to the trellis — this is a common mistake that many gardeners make.

When tying plants to a trellis, be mindful of how much room the stem needs to grow without restriction. This can change for every plant type, so it is best to refer to the seed package instructions or talk to a professional at the nursery where you purchased the plant. Then, you will want to tie the string or garden ties directly to the trellis before tying the stem in a separate knot.

To properly tie plant stems to a trellis without strangling them, you will need to use slightly different methods depending on the type of ties you use. Before you begin, you will want to make sure that you select the right type of cord, string, or garden ties that will work for your plant. Generally, garden ribbon, garden ties, or twine are good choices for almost any type of trellis tying. The biggest thing to remember is to avoid using rigid materials like fishing line that can cut into the stem.

If you are using garden ties, you will want to make a figure eight by wrapping the tie around the trellis and twisting once, then placing the stem in the tie and twisting it twice at the end, leaving enough space for the stem to thicken. If you are using twine, you will want to make two knots, one on the trellis and one around the stem, to give the stem space. While giving the stem enough space to expand is essential, you want to make sure it isn't too loose to the point that the plant moves around constantly. Check the ties a few times throughout the year and make adjustments as necessary. 

Among the many mistakes to avoid when growing plants on a trellis, giving them enough space to grow is one of the fastest ways to destroy your plants. If the stem is tied directly to the trellis post, it may not have adequate room to spread or expand, preventing growth into outer branches or fruit. This is true no matter what type of trellis you use in your vegetable or flower garden. If anything, including your trellis ties, is too tight around the stem of the plant, it can lead to girdling, which is basically just a fancy word for choking.

A girdled plant is restricted around a stem as it expands, causing the water and nutrients to stop at the girdled point, killing the plant's extremities. If your plant is girdled, you may start seeing early signs like small twigs dying or leaf scorching. However, these symptoms can quickly get worse. Eventually, you may see smaller leaves, twigs and branches dying in groups, stunted growth, and susceptibility to environmental damage. All of these things together can eventually lead to plant death.