Good garden twine is an important accessory which can be used for all sorts of tasks. But with different options available, what is the best gardening twine?
What is twine used for in gardening?
Whether it’s constructing climbing frames for beans, tying in tomatoes to a bamboo cane, stringing up onions and garlic to store in the shed or making a planting line, twine is pretty useful on the plot.
Twine is also perfect for creating garden lines – also called planting lines or row markers. The twine is wound round stakes (short bamboo canes will do it) at each end and unravelled to the length required. Twine used for this purpose is a great asset for making sure your planting and sowing line is straight.
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What are my options for gardening twin?
Garden twine can be made from a whole variety of natural fibres, including jute, cotton, sisal and hemp. There is also a selection of synthetic fibres available. However, jute is one of the most popular choices for garden twine.
Why jute makes a great garden twin
Jute – made from the jute plant (Corchorus olitorius) – is one of the more popular choices when it comes to garden twine. Mostly grown in India and Bangladesh it has a high carbon dioxide (CO2) assimilation rate, so is a good, sustainable product. It is usually sold as a three-ply (three interwoven strands), is strong but also has the advantage of being biodegradable once it has outlived its purpose. A real feel-good factor twine, suitable for all tying tasks in the garden.
Other consideration
There are also a couple of different options for how you might like to store your twine:
In a tin
Some companies have created specially designed tins which contain the spool within, while the twine itself is drawn out through a hole in the top. Some imagination often goes into the form and appearance of these products, and they can make excellent gifts.
On a hanging frame
Managing twine is something to bear in mind. If you’re not careful, a tight spool of twine can quickly descend into a tangled mess. You can get spools that come with a hanging frame which, for convenience, you can hang up in your shed and just draw out the twine to the correct length before cutting.
