5 Best Sisal Ropes For Tying Tomato Plants That Prevent Stem Damage
Secure your tomatoes without harming stems. Natural sisal rope offers a strong yet gentle solution. We review the 5 best options for your garden.
You’ve spent months nurturing your tomato seedlings, and now they’re finally reaching for the sky. You grab the first string you can find to tie them to the stake, only to discover a week later that the thin, plastic cord has sliced into the stem. This small oversight can choke a healthy plant, and it’s a frustration every gardener wants to avoid.
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Why Natural Sisal Beats Plastic for Tomatoes
The choice between natural fiber and synthetic twine seems minor, but it has a major impact on your plants. Plastic or nylon ties are strong, but they have zero "give." As a tomato stem thickens throughout the season, a rigid plastic tie will constrict it, a process called girdling that cuts off the flow of water and nutrients.
Sisal, made from the agave plant, is different. It’s a strong but soft fiber that is less likely to cut into tender plant tissue. It also has a slight natural stretch, allowing it to accommodate stem growth without causing damage. Think of it as a supportive sling rather than a rigid handcuff.
Furthermore, sisal is completely biodegradable. At the end of the season, you can snip the twine and toss it directly into your compost pile along with the rest of the plant matter. This closes the loop on your garden’s ecosystem, turning last season’s support system into next season’s soil enrichment. Plastic, on the other hand, becomes another piece of waste to be picked out of the garden and sent to a landfill.
T.W. Evans Twine: The Softest for Tender Stems
When you’re tying up young plants or delicate heirloom varieties, stem protection is your top priority. T.W. Evans’ "Perfect Garden Twine" is known for its exceptionally soft texture. It’s a lighter, 2-ply sisal that is gentle enough to use on even the most fragile stems without bruising or scraping them.
This 600-foot jute twine is perfect for crafting, gardening, and gift wrapping. Made from natural jute fibers, it's strong, biodegradable, and easy to use for various DIY projects.
This softness makes it ideal for the first few ties of the season when the main stem is still green and vulnerable. It provides support without aggression. The tradeoff for this gentleness is slightly lower tensile strength compared to heavier twines.
For massive, indeterminate varieties loaded with heavy fruit clusters, you may need to double-up your loops late in the season. But for most standard tomato plants, or for gardeners who prioritize plant health over raw strength, this is the kindest option you can choose. It’s the perfect tool for guiding growth, not just forcing it.
SGT KNOTS Sisal: Best for Heavy Fruiting Plants
If you’re growing beefsteaks, Brandywines, or any indeterminate variety that threatens to collapse under its own weight, you need a twine that means business. SGT KNOTS is a brand trusted for its high-quality, load-bearing ropes, and their sisal twine is no exception. It’s built for strength and reliability.
Typically available in a thicker, 3-ply construction, this twine offers superior tensile strength. It won’t snap or stretch excessively when holding up a branch laden with several pounds of fruit. This is the twine you reach for in mid-August when you hear the wind picking up and you don’t want to find broken branches the next morning.
The primary tradeoff is that this heavier twine can be a bit rougher on the stems if not tied correctly. It’s less forgiving than a softer twine, so proper technique is crucial. But when you need uncompromising support for a bumper crop, SGT KNOTS provides the peace of mind that your plants will stay upright and productive.
Everbilt Sisal: The Top Hardware Store Pick
Sometimes, the best tool is the one you can get your hands on right now. Everbilt is the house brand for The Home Depot, and their sisal twine is a reliable, accessible, and affordable option for almost any gardener. You don’t need a specialty store or an online order; you can just grab it while you’re picking up soil or stakes.
Everbilt sisal twine is a solid, all-purpose product. It typically sits in the middle of the road for softness and strength, making it a versatile choice for everything from tomatoes and peppers to bundling herbs for drying. It’s not the softest, nor is it the strongest, but it strikes a balance that works for the vast majority of garden tasks.
This is the perfect choice for the hobby farmer who values practicality and convenience. There’s no need to overthink it. If you need a good, dependable twine that gets the job done without any fuss, Everbilt is the go-to hardware store solution.
Koch Industries Twine for All-Weather Durability
A common complaint about natural fiber twine is its tendency to rot in persistently wet or humid conditions. Koch Industries often produces sisal twine that is either unoiled or lightly treated to better withstand the elements. This makes it an excellent choice for gardeners in regions with rainy summers or high humidity.
This enhanced durability means your ties won’t weaken and snap halfway through the season after a week of rain. A rotted tie is a failed tie, and it often fails at the worst possible moment—during a storm or when the plant is at its heaviest. Investing in a more weather-resistant twine prevents this mid-season scramble to re-stake your entire crop.
While any treatment might slightly slow its decomposition in the compost pile, the benefit of season-long reliability is a significant advantage. For anyone who has had their support system fail due to moisture, the all-weather performance of Koch twine is a smart upgrade.
Lehigh Group Twine: A Great Bulk Value Option
For the hobby farmer with long rows of tomatoes or a sizable market garden, buying small balls of twine is simply not economical. Lehigh Group and similar brands specialize in providing large spools or center-pull boxes containing thousands of feet of twine. This is where you turn when you measure your needs in spools, not feet.
Buying in bulk dramatically lowers the cost per foot, freeing up resources for other garden needs. While the quality can sometimes be less consistent than premium brands—you might find the occasional thick or thin spot—it is more than adequate for general agricultural use. It’s a workhorse product designed for volume.
The key here is practicality. You’re not looking for the perfect twine; you’re looking for a vast quantity of good-enough twine. For large-scale tying, trellising, and other farm tasks, the value offered by a bulk option like Lehigh is unmatched.
Proper Tying Technique to Avoid Stem Cinching
The best twine in the world can still damage a plant if used incorrectly. The goal is to support the stem, not strangle it. Never wrap the twine tightly around the stem itself, as this will girdle it as it grows.
The most effective and plant-safe method is the figure-eight loop.
- First, wrap the twine around the stake or trellis.
- Next, cross the twine over itself to form an "X".
- Finally, loop the twine loosely around the tomato stem before tying it off back at the stake.
This technique creates two distinct loops: one holding firmly to the stake and a second, looser loop that cradles the plant stem. This provides a buffer and gives the stem plenty of room to expand throughout the season. Always leave at least a finger’s width of space between the twine and the stem to ensure you aren’t restricting future growth.
Composting Used Sisal Twine at Season’s End
One of the greatest, yet often overlooked, benefits of using sisal is what happens after the harvest is done. As you clear out your tomato plants, all that used twine doesn’t need to go into the trash. It’s a valuable source of "brown" or carbon-rich material for your compost pile.
Simply snip the twine from the stakes and toss it in with the spent plants, grass clippings, and kitchen scraps. The natural fibers will be broken down by microorganisms over the fall and winter. By the time you’re ready to spread compost next spring, the twine will have disappeared, transformed into nutrient-rich organic matter.
This practice is a core principle of sustainable hobby farming: closing loops and reducing waste. Every element, from the plant to its support system, can be returned to the soil to build fertility for the next season. It’s a simple step that turns a disposable item into a regenerative resource.
In the end, the twine you use is a small but critical detail in the success of your tomato crop. Choosing a soft, strong, and natural sisal protects your plants from damage, supports their heavy yields, and contributes to the health of your soil. Making the right choice now ensures your focus stays where it should be: on a healthy, thriving garden and the delicious harvest to come.
