6 Best Tree Saver Straps For Saplings That Prevent Common Issues

You’ve just put a new sapling in the ground, maybe an apple tree for the orchard or a maple to shade the porch. You do everything right—good soil, proper depth, a healthy dose of water. But the single most common mistake that can doom that young tree happens next: improper staking. Using the wrong material can strangle a tree just as it’s trying to get established.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Why Proper Staking Prevents Trunk Girdling

Trunk girdling is exactly what it sounds like. It’s when a tie, wire, or strap cuts into the bark and chokes off the tree’s vascular system, which lives just underneath. This is the pipeline for water and nutrients, and when it’s severed, the tree starves.

Many people reach for what’s handy: a bit of rope, some old electrical wire, or a piece of garden hose with a wire run through it. These are all terrible ideas. Their narrow surface area concentrates all the pressure from wind and movement into a thin line, which quickly digs into the delicate bark. A proper tree saver strap is wide and flat for a reason.

The goal is to distribute that pressure over a much larger surface area. Think of it like the difference between pushing on something with your fingertip versus your whole palm. The wide, soft webbing of a tree strap provides firm support without creating a pressure point that can damage the cambium layer. It allows the tree to be held securely, not strangled.

DeepRoot ArborTie for Secure, Flat Webbing

ArborTie is what many professionals use, and for good reason. It’s a flat, soft, woven webbing that comes in a roll, so you can cut exactly what you need for each tree. This stuff is strong enough to hold a tree steady in a stiff wind but won’t slice into the bark.

The material is UV-stabilized, which is a bigger deal than it sounds. Cheaper materials will break down in the sun after a season or two, often failing right when you’re not looking. ArborTie is built to last until the tree is ready to stand on its own. Because it comes on a roll, it’s incredibly versatile for staking trees of all different calibers, from a whip-thin sapling to a more established transplant.

The only real consideration is that you’re just getting the material. You’ll need to provide your own stakes and know how to tie a knot that won’t slip or constrict, or use their specific locking fasteners. It’s a simple, reliable, and cost-effective solution if you have more than a few trees to manage.

Envelor Straps for Flexible and Gentle Support

If you’re working with a particularly delicate tree, like a Japanese maple or a species with thin bark, Envelor straps are an excellent choice. They are often made of a softer, more pliable material and typically feature metal grommets at each end. This design is incredibly gentle on the tree trunk.

The grommets are the key feature here. You run your guide rope or wire through the grommets, not around the strap itself. This prevents the rope from ever directly touching the tree and also reduces friction and wear on the strap material. It creates a clean, secure, and very safe anchor point.

The tradeoff for this gentle approach is slightly less heavy-duty strength compared to some other options. For most backyard settings and smaller saplings, they are more than adequate. But for a larger, heavy-caliper tree on a windy hilltop, you might want something with a bit more brute force.

Growsun Tree Straps for Heavy-Duty Anchoring

When you need serious holding power, Growsun is a name that comes up often. These straps are typically wider and thicker than many alternatives, designed for maximum strength and pressure distribution. They are often sold as part of a kit, which is handy.

This is your go-to for a standard fruit tree or a shade tree planted in an exposed location. The extra width—often 1.5 inches or more—is fantastic for spreading the load and ensuring the strap doesn’t buckle or fold under pressure. This is the kind of strap that gives you peace of mind during a thunderstorm.

Because they are built for strength, make sure you don’t overtighten them. The point is to allow the tree to flex and build its own structural wood, not to hold it in a rigid splint. Use these for robust anchoring, but remember to give the tree a little room to move.

Yard Butler Staking Kit for All-in-One Setup

Sometimes, you just want the job done without three trips to the hardware store. The Yard Butler Staking Kit is built for exactly that scenario. It’s a complete, self-contained solution that includes the straps, ropes, and spiral stakes needed to support a young tree.

The biggest advantage is convenience. Everything is pre-measured and designed to work together. You don’t have to guess if your rope is strong enough for your stakes or if your straps are the right size. For someone planting one or two trees a year, this removes all the guesswork and saves a ton of time.

Of course, you’re paying for that convenience. The components are perfectly functional for most home applications but may not have the same professional-grade durability as parts sourced individually. But let’s be realistic: for securing a new dogwood in the front yard, it’s a practical and effective solution that works right out of the box.

FarmTek Support Strap: Durable Woven Material

For those of us managing a small orchard or planting a windbreak with dozens of saplings, buying individual kits is just not practical. This is where a bulk roll of something like FarmTek’s support strap comes in. It’s a no-frills, durable woven polypropylene material designed for agricultural use.

This is the workhorse option. It’s tough, weather-resistant, and, most importantly, economical when purchased in a large roll. You cut what you need, when you need it. It’s the same principle as ArborTie but often marketed more toward small farm and nursery operations.

The application is straightforward: wrap it around the tree, secure it to your stakes, and move on to the next one. It’s not fancy, but it’s reliable. This is the kind of material you’ll find other uses for around the farm, from securing trellises to temporarily mending a fence. It’s pure utility.

T-MATE-O Support for a Unique Cradling Design

If you want to completely eliminate the risk of a strap or rope touching the tree bark, the T-MATE-O is a clever piece of engineering. Instead of a simple flat strap, it’s a semi-rigid, curved plastic support that cradles the trunk. The guide ropes then attach to the support, not the tree.

This design creates a protective buffer around the entire trunk. It’s virtually foolproof when it comes to preventing girdling because the pressure points are on the device itself, which then distributes the load evenly against the tree. It also allows for natural sway within the cradle, which helps the tree develop a strong base.

The main tradeoff is cost and aesthetics. These supports are more expensive than a simple strap and look more like a piece of equipment than a simple tie. However, for a high-value specimen tree or for someone who wants the absolute safest system available, it’s an innovative and highly effective option.

Correct Installation to Avoid Common Mistakes

Having the best strap in the world won’t help if you install it incorrectly. The single biggest mistake is making the supports too tight. A tree needs to sway in the wind to build reaction wood, which strengthens its trunk and root system. If you stake it rigidly, you’re creating a weak, dependent tree that may snap after the supports are removed.

Always leave some slack in the lines. The tree should be able to move an inch or two in every direction before the supports engage. The straps are there to prevent it from blowing over, not to hold it in a cast. Also, be sure to remove all staking materials after one, or at most two, growing seasons. Forgetting to remove them is the number one cause of girdling.

A few key rules will serve you well:

• Check your straps annually. Loosen them as the trunk thickens.
• Use two or three stakes, placed outside the root ball, for balanced support.
• Position the strap about two-thirds of the way up the trunk. This provides an effective lever point without overly restricting the top.

Choosing the right tree saver strap is a small detail that pays huge dividends. It’s the difference between a healthy, thriving tree and one that struggles or fails within a few years. By matching the strap to the tree and installing it correctly, you’re giving your young sapling the best possible chance to become a strong, permanent part of your landscape.